ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the European Commission on dates used to calculate future entitlements to direct payments as part of Common Agricultural Policy reform.

David Heath: My predecessor has met with members of the Commission on a number of occasions to discuss this and other areas of concern to the Government, most recently at the Royal Welsh Agricultural show. DEFRA officials are involved in regular working group discussions where all aspects of the future allocation of entitlements are being considered.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the likely effect on (a) the level of land banking and (b) access to agricultural land by new entrants and tenant farmers of implementing proposed Common Agricultural Policy reforms that the allocation of entitlements to direct payments should be based on a date in the future.

David Heath: There is the potential for distortions to arise whenever future dates are used as part of qualifying criteria. This is one of the reasons why we are seeking the option to roll over existing entitlements. We also consider that there may be specific circumstances where new entrants might be disadvantaged by the Commission's proposals, particularly in the first year of the scheme and we are working to ensure that member states and regions have the flexibility to address them.

Dangerous Dogs

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to deal with irresponsible dog ownership in the proposed draft bill on antisocial behaviour;
	(2)  with reference to Putting victims first: more effective responses to anti-social behaviour, when he expects to announce his plans for dealing with irresponsible dog ownership.

David Heath: The Home Office have proposed changes to the existing antisocial behaviour measures and these proposals include such behaviour where it involves dogs.
	DEFRA’s own consultation on proposals to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs closed on 15 June. We are currently analysing over 27,000 responses.
	An announcement about the way forward will be made in due course once responses have been considered.

Dangerous Dogs

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he plans to take to deal with attacks on guide and other assistance dogs.

David Heath: The Government recently completed a consultation on a package of proposals to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs. The consultation attracted over 27,000 responses. We are currently analysing the responses before making any announcements about a way forward. The existing laws on dangerous dogs and animal welfare already provide protection for attacks on guide dogs. However, I will give careful consideration to the matter.

Floods: Insurance

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Association of British Insurers on provision of affordable and adequate flood insurance.

Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State and I recently met representatives from the insurance industry regarding the future availability and affordability of home insurance in flood risk areas.
	Discussions with the industry continue and further announcements will be made in due course.

Nature Conservation

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what programmes to protect and encourage the breeding of endangered species the Government sponsors.

Richard Benyon: The Species Recovery Programme, operated by Natural England, provides direct support for the most threatened species of animals, plants and fungi in England. This includes targeted action through status assessments, research to identify causes of decline, research to identify appropriate means of recovery, the testing of recovery solutions and re-introductions.
	The Environment Agency makes a significant contribution across England and Wales to the protection of endangered aquatic species (including plants, animals, birds and fish) both through its regulatory role and its positive work in support of environmental improvement. Current breeding projects include the white-clawed crayfish, freshwater pearl mussel and vendace (a freshwater white fish).
	Efforts to conserve endangered fish species and to encourage their breeding typically focus on management measures targeted at wild fish populations and the Government support a range of activities, for example, prohibitions on exploitation, fishery technical measures and habitat improvement schemes. Species subject to such measures to allow stocks to rebuild include the angel shark and European eel.
	The UK Government also provide support through a number of mechanisms for protecting biodiversity overseas—including through the Darwin Initiative, which has been funding projects around the world for the last 20 years. Some projects aim to improve the conservation status of endangered species through breeding programmes or re-introductions. For example, a current project is re-introducing endangered frogs (called mountain chickens) in Montserrat. The Darwin Initiative also supports several projects which are involved in the captive breeding of vultures in India/South Asia. In addition, the Government contribute to various initiatives and organisations that support a range of endangered species, which are assessed on a case-by-case basis, such as the Global Tiger Initiative, projects associated with the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, and the Great Apes Survival Partnership. DEFRA's biodiversity research programme has a number of projects addressing threats to biodiversity in the UK overseas territories. This includes work to improve breeding success of the critically endangered St Helena wirebird.
	The Royal Botanic Garden Kew's UK Overseas Territories Programme has received funding from DEFRA, Darwin and the Overseas Territories Environment Programme over the last 10 years to help conserve the unique plants of the UK overseas territories, through seed collection, cultivation at Kew, capacity building in territories, helping establish native species nurseries in territories and ultimately restoring habitats and re-introducing threatened species back into the wild. DEFRA also supports the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership led by the Royal. Botanic Gardens, Kew and involving about 50 countries aiming to conserve 75,000 plant species by 2020.

Water Charges: Voluntary Organisations

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to paragraph 4.2 of his Department's guidance to water and sewerage undertakers in relation to the concessionary scheme for community groups for surface water drainage charges, what assessment he has made of the effect of the concessionary scheme for community groups where water and sewerage undertakers have not identified additional classes of community groups; which water and sewerage undertakers have identified additional classes of charities in community group concessionary schemes for surface water drainage to those listed; and whether he plans to review the scheme.

Richard Benyon: The Government's guidance provides criteria to help, undertakers determine which community groups should benefit from concessionary schemes for surface water drainage. It states which groups the Government expect undertakers will want to include but makes clear that this is not an exhaustive list. The guidance also proposes that undertakers should take account of the criteria. It requires undertakers to carry out an Impact Assessment and bring forward any scheme in consultation with customers. Therefore, the decision of which groups to include in a scheme is one for the undertaker, in consultation with their customers.
	Two companies (United Utilities and Northumbrian Water) have brought forward concessionary schemes for charging for surface water drainage within the guidelines set out by the Government. Neither undertaker has identified additional categories of community groups that were not specified in the guidance.
	It is for the companies themselves to assess and review the effectiveness of their schemes, in line with the Government guidance, which was issued in 2010. There are currently no plans to review the guidance, but it will be reviewed in due course as a matter of policy evaluation.

SCOTLAND

Cabinet Growth Implementation Committee

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he expects to be a member of the proposed Cabinet Growth Implementation Committee.

Michael Moore: Membership of the Cabinet Growth Implementation Committee has not yet been confirmed. The Cabinet Office will shortly issue a new list of Cabinet Committee membership, which will incorporate changes following the reshuffle

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with (a) Universities Scotland and (b) NUS Scotland on the effect of the Government's immigration reforms on Scottish universities.

Michael Moore: I meet with members of the higher education sector in Scotland on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues including immigration reform.

Food Banks

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the trend in the number of people using food banks in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Moore: These are challenging times economically but we are committed to supporting people with appropriate help to enable them to access employment and to re-balancing the economy to create sustainable jobs. DWP's Work programme and Get Britain Working initiatives are intended to provide people with the necessary skills and experience to help them into long-term jobs that will provide them with security and stability.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Corporation Tax

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury and the Northern Ireland Executive on corporation tax; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: Officials have continued work on the issues surrounding the potential devolution of powers to vary the corporation tax rate to the Northern Ireland Assembly since the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Rebalancing the Northern Ireland Economy last met in June. I intend to have discussions with ministerial colleagues from HM Treasury and the Northern Ireland Executive in the coming weeks.

National Crime Agency

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will undertake a comparative assessment of the compatibility of her plans for the National Crime Agency (NCA) and provisions for the NCA contained in the Crime and Courts Bill with the principles and arrangements for accountable policing in Northern Ireland resulting from the Belfast Agreement, the Patten Report and other agreements.

Theresa Villiers: My Department has worked closely with the Home Office and Northern Ireland Department of Justice to ensure that the principles of the Belfast Agreement and other agreements are reflected in the Crime and Courts Bill. The proposed arrangements achieve this by maintaining the primacy of the Chief Constable for policing in Northern Ireland. They also provide for local accountability, through the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and a relationship with the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

National Crime Agency

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will specify pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State of 18 June 2012, Official Report, HL column 1609, on the Crime and Courts Bill (Lords), what the mix of reserved and devolved activity to be undertaken by the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland will include.

Theresa Villiers: Areas of devolved responsibility in which the National Crime Agency would undertake activity, in partnership with PSNI, include child exploitation, organised crime and cyber crime. The National Crime Agency will also work on reserved matters, for example money laundering, and other matters, such as human trafficking, some elements of which are excepted.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Acid Attacks

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many incidents of acid attacks were recorded in the last 12 months for which figures are available; and how many such incidents led to prosecutions.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not available from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office. The data series does not hold information on acid attacks.

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre Child Protection Command to be appointed.

Jeremy Browne: Peter Davies was appointed director designate of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command for the National Crime Agency (NCA) in May 2012. CEOP will be one of the NCA's four operational Commands, reflecting the importance of child protection within the agency's work.
	Peter Davies will carry out this role in addition to his current responsibilities as chief executive of the CEOP Centre. As director designate, Mr Davies will oversee the smooth transition of CEOP into the NCA, as an integral part of the wider work to establish the agency.
	A transition group is in place to ensure performance of CEOP is maintained and enhanced before the NCA becomes fully operational by the end of 2013, subject to the passage of legislation.

Crime

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) assessed on the effect of fantasising on levels of (i) crime and (ii) recidivism.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 7 September 2012
	The Home Office has not commissioned or assessed any research on the effect of fantasising on levels of crime and recidivism.

Crime Prevention

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with representatives of Twitter and other social media companies about crime prevention; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 6 September 2012
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), met with representatives from Twitter following the August 2011 disorder. The Government continue to work closely with representatives from social media, industry and the voluntary sector at the quarterly Board meetings for the UK Council on Child Internet Safety to help protect children online.

Crime: Betting Shops

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of (a) assaults, (b) incidences of criminal damage, (c) robberies and (d) other offences committed in betting shops in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not available from the police recorded crime statistics. The Home Office are unable to provide, from centrally held records, information on offences committed in betting shops.

Crime: Birmingham

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) car thefts, (b) burglaries and (c) violent crimes have been reported in Birmingham in each year since 2007.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 7 September 2012
	The available information relates to car thefts, burglary and violent crime offences recorded by the police in Birmingham and is given in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of offences recorded by the police in Birmingham for selected offences, financial year since 2006-07 
			 Financial Year Theft or unauthorised taking of motor vehicle Burglary Violence against the person 
			 2006-07 5,262 14,568 26,280 
			 2007-08 4,829 13,558 23,666 
			 2008-09 4,169 12,313 21,767 
			 2009-10 3,376 11,766 21,647 
			 2010-11 3,302 12,654 18,390 
			 2011-12 2,774 10,937 15,786

Domestic Violence

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to reduce levels of domestic violence; and what assistance is offered to victims of domestic violence.

Jeremy Browne: The Government's approach to tackling domestic violence is set out in our updated Call to End Violence Against Women and Girls action plan published on 8 March 2012. Key initiatives include:
	provision of £3.3 million per year to fund Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference co-ordinators and Independent Domestic Violence Adviser posts until 2015;
	provision of £860,000 a year for national helplines to support the victims of domestic violence;
	requiring that multi-agency reviews happen after every domestic homicide, and;
	piloting a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme in four police force areas which will test a process for enabling the police to disclose information about previous violent offending by a new or existing partner.

Drugs

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 11 July 2012, Official Report, column 224W, on drugs: crime, when her Department plans to update its estimate of the number of acquisitive crimes committed that are related to the consumption of illegal drugs;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 654W, on drugs: misuse, when her Department plans to update its estimate of the size of the illicit drug market in the UK.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office is currently working to update its estimate of the social and economic cost of organised crime. This will include an update of the estimated size of the illicit drug market in the UK and the estimated proportion of acquisitive crimes committed in relation to the consumption of illegal drugs.
	This work is expected to be completed in the autumn of 2012.

Female Genital Mutilation

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been investigated for carrying out female genital mutilation to date.

Jeremy Browne: Information on the number of people investigated for carrying out female genital mutilation (FGM) is not held centrally.

Offences Against Children: Social Media

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking in response to reports of the use of Twitter by paedophiles; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 6 September 2012
	Social media providers still have more to do to make their services safer environments for children, but all of the major players are engaged with Governments at UK and/or European level and have agreed to adhere to the EU Safer Social Networking Guidelines. Twitter unfortunately have not taken part in these discussions despite being encouraged to do so by UK Government officials earlier this year. We would urge Twitter to rethink their stance.
	The Government are working with the industry through the UK Council for Child Internet Safety to agree and put in place better measures to improve children's online safety.

Prostitution

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been (a) arrested on suspicion of committing and (b) subsequently charged with offences relating to prostitution by age, gender and region in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Prostitution

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex worker outreach centres there are in England and Wales.

Jeremy Browne: This information is not held centrally.

Prostitution

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex workers were arrested in the Metropolitan police area in 2011.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

Prostitution: Court Orders

Mike Wood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is responsible for supervising people sentenced to an engagement and support order under the Policing and Crime Act 2009; and what training is provided to them.

Jeremy Browne: The Policing and Crime Act 2009 took steps to improve the safety and support available for individuals involved within prostitution through the introduction of section 17, Engagement and Support Orders. This legislation provides the courts with an alternative to fining those convicted of loitering or soliciting and instead requires attendance at meetings with a court appointed supervisor who has been nominated by local agencies.
	The Home Office has issued guidance on ‘Engagement and Support Orders’. Any training is a matter for the local projects.

Sexual Offences: Armed Forces

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of (a) rape and (b) sexual assault were reported to civilian police by members of the armed forces in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not available from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office. The data series does not hold information on offences reported by members of the armed forces.

Stalking

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support she plans to provide to victims of stalking after the implementation of new legislation in this area.

Jeremy Browne: The Government are working with the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Crown Prosecution Service and Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service, to provide guidance and training to better equip agencies so that they can support victims of stalking. We continue to fund the National Stalking Helpline which provides a valuable service to victims.

Stalking

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has to improve communications between her Department and the Department of Health in respect of the psychological effects of stalking on victims.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office continues to work with a range of partners, including the Department of Health, to ensure that the wider effects of stalking on victims are considered.

Stalking

Robert Buckland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether she plans to enable police to search the property of individuals arrested for suspected stalking, to assist evidence gathering.

Jeremy Browne: The Government want perpetrators of stalking and harassment to be fully investigated and prosecuted. The new legislation on stalking provides the police with a new power of entry and search to help secure the evidence needed to bring perpetrators of stalking offences to justice.

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to implement the recommendations of the National Audit Office's report, Central Government's implementation of the national Compact.

Jeremy Browne: We have developed, in consultation with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) and Compact Voice, an action plan addressing the recommendations in the NAO report. This action plan was agreed with voluntary sector representatives in April and implementation is now under way.

TRANSPORT

Biofuels

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the use of biofuels derived from corn; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: Biofuels supplied in the UK, as reported under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), are made from a number of different feedstocks including agricultural crops such as corn, wastes, residues, ligno-cellulosic and non-food cellulosic materials.
	Our policy is that the supply of biofuels in the UK has a role to play in reducing carbon emissions and encouraging economic growth, but biofuels must be genuinely sustainable. Amendments made to the RTFO in December 2011 to transpose the Renewable Energy Directive ensure only biofuels meeting mandatory sustainability criteria benefit from incentives under the RTFO. Those criteria include that biofuels, with some exceptions, must deliver greenhouse gas savings of at least 35 per cent when compared to fossil fuels and that biofuels must not be sourced from areas of high biodiversity, or from high carbon soils (eg rainforests or wetlands).

Chesham

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times (a) he and (b) each member of his ministerial team have visited Chesham and Amersham in an official capacity in the last three years; and what the purpose was of each such visit.

Norman Baker: Since taking office, the Secretary of State has not visited Chesham and Amersham in an official capacity, and neither have I nor any members of the ministerial team in the last three years.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings have been held by Ministers in his Department with potential investors in the High Speed 2 project; and on what dates those meetings took place.

Simon Burns: Since taking up my post, neither I nor my Ministers have had any meeting with potential investors in High Speed 2.

Motor Vehicles: Registration

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 5 September 2012, Official Report, column 339W, on motor vehicles: registration, if he will make it his policy to commission an estimate of the number of unregistered foreign vehicles in the UK.

Stephen Hammond: The Department would not make it policy to commission an estimate of the number of foreign vehicles in the UK. This is because there is no central database that records foreign registered vehicles, and so any estimates we could produce would be extremely inaccurate because there are no reliable tracking technologies.
	I refer to my answer of 5 September 2012, Official Report, column 340W.

Motorcycles: Driving Tests

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when he expects to conclude his trials of changes to module one of the motorcycle practical test;
	(2)  when he expects to begin consulting on changes to module one of the motorcycle practical test.

Stephen Hammond: The trials are expected to conclude in December 2012. There will be a full public consultation, on any proposals for changing the current motorcycle test, in spring 2013.

Road Traffic Control

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the outcomes were of the consultation on the placing of notices of traffic orders by local authorities in local newspapers; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: We have had a large response to this consultation and are currently analysing the replies from this public consultation, and I will announce the outcome and way forward later this year.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Energy Bill

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will take steps to ensure that all market support mechanisms included in the Government's proposed Energy Bill are transitional.

John Hayes: The electricity market reforms set out in the draft Energy Bill are being developed to be robust to a range of future scenarios, such as developments in technology; future Government objectives; and changes in prices and demand.
	As set out in the electricity market reform (EMR) policy overview:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/policy-legislation/emr/5349-electricity-market-reform-policy-overview.pdf
	published alongside the draft Energy Bill in May, EMR provides the process and mechanisms to enable us to make a long-term transition to a market where low carbon generators compete fairly under a robust and stable carbon price.
	Further detail on the EMR package, including the contracts for difference feed-in tariff and the capacity mechanism, will be set out later this year.

Energy: Conservation

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will ensure that the Government's proposed Energy Bill includes provision for a strategy to reduce energy demand.

John Hayes: Reducing energy demand is a Government priority. Energy efficiency is key to this and the Government plans to publish a national energy efficiency strategy by the end of the year.
	As part of this strategy the Electricity Demand Reduction project is looking specifically at whether additional measures are required to reduce electricity demand. The project's initial assessment suggests significant further potential may exist in this area, and my Department will launch a consultation on policy approaches to unlock this potential later this year.

Energy: Fees and Charges

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate his Department has made of the number of households that have been charged termination fees by their energy supplier in respect of terminating a domestic supply contract in each of the last five years; and what the (a) average and (b) total amount paid was in each such year.

John Hayes: DECC does not hold the information requested.
	The setting of tariffs, including any termination fees associated with fixed-price deals, is a commercial matter for the companies concerned. Termination fees should reflect charges incurred by a supplier when a consumer decides to break away from the fixed-deal before the end of the offer. Consumers with a fixed-price deal will not have to a pay a termination fee if the reason to break away is due to a price increase and they notify the supplier of their intention to switch before the day the price change takes place.

Energy: Meters

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average annual cost to a domestic consumer of a smart meter;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average annual rental charge for a smart meter installed in a domestic setting.

John Hayes: Costs arising from the installation and operation of smart meters will fall to energy suppliers. Energy suppliers will also benefit from operational cost savings. It is expected that energy prices charged to consumers by suppliers will reflect both costs incurred and the benefit of savings. In the early years of the roll-out, as suppliers are responsible for the set-up costs to establish the smart metering system, we expect that suppliers will pass through a net cost to consumers. The impact assessment, published in April 2012, estimates that the bill increase will be most pronounced in 2015, when it is expected that the roll-out will increase the average annual bill by £7 per household. As the roll-out progresses, suppliers are expected to realise net savings. Overall, considering both costs and cost savings to energy suppliers and energy savings by consumers, we expect the roll-out to reduce the average, annual dual fuel bill by £25 by 2020, and by £40 in 2030.

Energy: Meters

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the average annual energy saving from installing a smart meter in (a) an average domestic setting, (b) a domestic setting with energy bills of £400 per annum and (c) a domestic setting with energy bills of £500 per annum.

John Hayes: In April 2012 DECC published an updated impact assessment (IA) for the roll-out of smart meters to domestic customers. There is a growing evidence base on the potential energy savings that are achievable from smart metering, and the IA assumptions fall at the lower end of the range of savings that have been observed in recent trials. Our IA does not break down our estimates of reductions in energy consumption between households with energy bills of £400 and households with bills of £500 per annum. However, in the average domestic setting the IA estimates that customers will reduce electricity consumption by 2.8% and gas consumption by 2%. Gas pre-payment customers are expected to reduce their energy consumption by 0.5%.

Energy: Scotland

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what representations his Department has received from Scottish Executive (a) Ministers and (b) officials on energy prices and the big six since May 2007; and if he will place in the Library copies of all such representations.

John Hayes: DECC Ministers and officials receive a number of representations from other Government Departments and the devolved Administrations, including the Scottish Executive, on a range of issues. Following Cabinet Office guidelines we do not publish details of any such discussions or meetings.
	Quarterly lists of DECC Ministers' meetings that involve outside interested parties are published on the DECC website, available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/accesstoinform/registers/ministermtgs/ministermtgs.aspx
	I look forward to engaging with my ministerial counterparts in the devolved Administrations.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme: Aviation

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how much money auctioning allowances for the aviation sector within the EU ETS raised in the latest period for which figures are available.

Gregory Barker: The auctioning of aviation allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System has not yet commenced in the UK or anywhere in Europe. The Government plan to hold the first UK auctions of these allowances later this year.

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when state aid clearance for (a) contracts for difference and (b) investment instruments is anticipated; and how this will fit with the timetable for the Energy Bill 2012 and subsequent secondary legislation.

John Hayes: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 September 2012, Official Report, column 63W.

Solar Power

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to change the level of subsidy for solar photovoltaics in the next two years.

Gregory Barker: DECC issued a consultation document on 7 September inviting comments on proposed changes to the level of support for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations under the renewables obligation. The proposals apply to new generation or additional capacity accredited on or after 1 April 2013. The consultation closes on 19 October and the Government intend to publish their decision by the end of November. A copy of the consultation proposals are available on DECC's website at the following location:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/ro_solarpv/ro_solarpv.aspx
	Solar PV generation is also supported under the feed-in tariff scheme. In July the Government announced a new policy of degression which adjusts the level of support for this technology in line with falling costs of installation. Further details can be found in the Government Response to the consultation on the comprehensive review of the feed-in tariff scheme phase 2A, on solar PV cost control, available at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/fits_rev_ph2a/fits_rev_ph2a.aspx

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Broadband: Rural Areas

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely economic effect of the superfast broadband rollout in rural areas.

Edward Vaizey: The impact of broadband on business growth is well documented in publicly available studies. Neither the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), nor I have made any new assessment of the impact of broadband roll-out on economic growth or businesses in areas with poor broadband services.

Football

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to regulate the (a) debt and (b) ownership of professional football clubs; whether she will discuss with Supporters Direct any such proposals; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: It is for the football authorities to determine the best way of achieving the right changes in the game, and make improvements that will benefit the long-term interests of grassroots football, professional clubs and the national team.
	We are pleased that the football authorities have responded positively to the challenges set by the Government and the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, and have proposed improvements to the way the sport is governed. However, before any further plans are agreed, including whether legislation is required, the Select Committee must conclude its deliberations and provide a formal response to these proposals.

Museums and Galleries: Yorkshire and the Humber

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many people visited each of the national museums in Yorkshire and the Humber in each year since 1997.

Edward Vaizey: The following table provides visitor figures for the national museums in Yorkshire and the Humber in each year since 1997. The National Media Museum and the National Railway Museum are both branches of the Science Museum Group (formerly National Museum of Science and Industry).
	
		
			  National Media Museum(1) National Railway Museum, York Royal Armouries Leeds Total 
			 1997-98 298,901 420,079 349,000 1,067,980 
			 1998-99 83,613 434,566 296,000 814,179 
			 1999-2000 962,899 467,880 173,500 1,604,279 
			 2000-01 969,822 485,785 185,710 1,641,317 
			 2001-02 823,309 587,862 280,867 1,692,038 
			 2002-03 768,161 767,299 302,527 1,837,987 
			 2003-04 723,273 740,217 277,105 1,740,595 
			 2004-05 658,991 885,406 301,809 1,846,206 
			 2005-06 615,431 744,472 244,469 1,604,372 
			 2006-07 677,029 903,188 225,417 1,805,634 
			 2007-08 737,857 824,106 267,624 1,829,587 
			 2008-09 672,951 782,430 264,973 1,720,354 
			 2009-10 606,837 709,166 269,591 1,585,594 
			 2010-11 497,522 630,396 273,824 1,401,742 
			 2011-12 482,790 717,274 215,135 1,415,199 
			 (1) The National Media Museum was partially closed in 1997-98 and 1998-99 for refurbishment.

Music: Young People

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of young people who play musical instruments.

Edward Vaizey: The first National Plan for Music Education, launched on 25 November 2011, sets out Government's priorities and support for music education. This plan includes the creation of a national network of music education hubs to support high quality music teaching funded through Arts Council England. The successful hubs were announced by Arts Council England in May. A list of the successful hubs can be found on the following link:
	http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/media/uploads/xls/MEHsuccessful_applicants_website.xls

Olympic Games 2012: Swindon

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to raise participation in events connected with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Swindon.

Hugh Robertson: The Government and the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) established the Nations and Regions Group to ensure UK-wide engagement and to maximise the legacy from London 2012. A sustained programme of proactive marketing and communications activities has generated high levels of interest and engagement in London 2012-related activities across Wiltshire.
	This can be seen through 91% of Swindon schools (77) being registered for the Get Set network. Including Lydiard Park Academy, which has worked with primary schools across Swindon to identify over 100 school ambassadors and leaders of London 2012 themed projects. The academy ran an ‘Olympic Roadshow', visiting local primary schools and giving over 2,000 pupils an opportunity to try Olympic and Paralympic sports such as rowing, archery, boccia and goalball. Also, four Wiltshire schools were selected to form the Guard of Honour, lining the route as the athletes made their way through the Olympic Park.
	Around 15,000 people were in Swindon town centre to witness the Olympic Torch Relay visit on 23 May, with several more thousand in surrounding communities. Huge crowds were present at Wharf Green where Didier Drogba ran with the flame.
	A series of business events ran in the years leading up to the games to raise awareness of contract opportunities and ways to bid. This included an event run in partnership with Coca Cola in June 2012 to highlight the opportunities to benefit from the Olympic Torch Relay's visit to Wiltshire, and a business breakfast run by Wiltshire council in Salisbury on the morning of the Olympic Torch Relay's visit to the town. Swindon-based Barnes Coaches Ltd and Thamesdown Transport Ltd were awarded contracts to supply buses and drivers for the Games Family Bus Services in London.
	The Live Site at Swindon's Big Screen, in Wharf Green, attracted thousands to watch the live action (including 1,000 for the Olympic games closing ceremony) and many went on to try out a wide range of sports—up to 200 people on each day took part in various free taster sessions, ranging from basketball to boccia and fencing to table tennis. The Big Screen also screened all the live Paralympics coverage and hosted two super Saturdays, which showcased sporting opportunities for budding Paralympians. This included a new initiative called Run With Me, which encourages runners to form friendships with disabled athletes so they can take part together in events ranging from 5 km races to half-marathons.
	Swindon council's leisure services ran a host of special offers encouraging usage of their facilities and driving up participation. For example, more than 150 people signed up for an offer which gave access to a wide range of activities over a 20-day period for just £12. The Community Games Tour, which ran during the school summer holidays for children, parents and grandparents to play exercise-related games, also engaged with around 200 people per week.
	As part of the UK's bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games we promised to inspire a new generation to play sport. Through Places, People, Play, £135 million has already been committed to support community sport facilities and activity. Sports projects in Wiltshire have already been allocated funding through this programme. Also, over the next four years the new Youth Sport Strategy will invest at least £1 billion of Lottery and Exchequer funding to help ensure young people across England are regularly taking part in sport.

Public Expenditure: Merseyside

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much her Department has spent on (a) sport, (b) music, (c) film, (d) museums and galleries and (d) libraries in (i) Liverpool, Walton constituency and (ii) Merseyside since May 2001; and what estimate her Department has made of the level of such spending in each such category in each of the next three years.

Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) provides grant in aid funding to public bodies that help deliver our strategic aims and objectives for the arts, media, sport, museums/galleries and libraries. The grant in aid allocated to these bodies since 2001 can be found in the Department's annual reports, and more recently in funding allocation letters, which can be found at the following links:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/about_us/our_annual_report/1052.aspx
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2010_11.pdf
	and
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/9020.aspx
	Music, museums/galleries and libraries
	Arts Council England (ACE) has provided details of funding they have provided for music and visual arts between the financial years 2001-02 and 2011-12 in the Walton constituency and Merseyside. This can be found in the following table. ACE does not classify galleries separately from visual arts, and there was no spending in this period by the Renaissance Museum Programme Funding in these areas.
	In October 2011, ACE took over responsibility for supporting and developing libraries as part of the functions they inherited from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). Figures are not held by ACE for spending by the MLA on libraries in this period or this area. They will however provide £6m in grants for the arts funding for libraries between September 2012 and March 2015.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Liverpool, Walton Merseyside 
			 Visual Arts   
			 Total funding since 2001 38,964 22,968,205 
			    
			 Music   
			 Total funding since 2001 231,000 24,594,136 
		
	
	This Department has policy responsibility for public libraries in England, but funding for local public services including public libraries is paid as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Public library services are delivered by 151 library authorities in England and the amount spent on libraries in each authority is published in the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Annual Public Library Statistics, copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Sport
	Sport England distributes Exchequer and lottery funding to grassroots sport. Funding from 2001 can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Grassroots sport Liverpool, Walton Merseyside 
			 Total funding since 2001 719,452 18,263,369 
		
	
	UK Sport is responsible for investing Exchequer and national lottery funds in Britain's best Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes, this is not region specific.
	Between 2004 and 2010 Exchequer funding was provided by DCMS towards School Sports Partnerships, which the Department for Education (then Department for Children, Schools and Families) distributed to Liverpool and the Merseyside area.
	Film
	Prior to 2011, all public funding to the Merseyside area was handled through the now disbanded Regional Screen Agency (RSA), ‘Northwest Vision+Media' (V&M). From 2002, when the V&M was created, to September 2011, V&M delivered approximately £2 million in investment, including lottery awards and spend on services to the film industry, in the Merseyside area. This information is not available by constituency.
	In addition, V&M managed the Liverpool Film and TV fund (MFTVF) through which £2 million investment went to businesses and productions in Liverpool.
	Since the abolition of the RSAs in October 2011 investment via Creative England (CE) has amounted to approximately £3,200, including both lottery awards and investment in services to the North West.
	The Department cannot provide the levels of funding for the next three years for the categories requested by the hon. Member. However, details of the funding DCMS has allocated to its ALB's until 2014-15 can be found in the funding allocation letters at the above link.

Research

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what her policy is on the publication of research and data commissioned by her Department and the bodies for which she is responsible with or without a charge.

Hugh Robertson: With regard to data, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) operates on a “presumption to publish” basis outlined in the Cabinet Office's Open Data White Paper. The DCMS's Open Data Strategy affirms that the Department is committed to making data openly available for re-use (subject to confidentiality and legal constraints). This strategy covers DCMS data only; it does not currently extend to the Department’s arm's length bodies (ALBs) or executive agencies, many of which have leading open data initiatives which use a number of models to share data.
	Statistical data produced by DCMS are published and made available under the standards of the Code of Practice for Official Statistics, which include making statistics available in as much detail as is reliable and practicable, subject to legal and confidentiality constraints. The code also covers the Department's ALBs which publish Official Statistics. The Department's Head of Profession for Statistics is responsible for ensuring ALBs have access to publication guidance and providing advice when needed. Economic and social research is published by the Department under the principles of the Government Social Research Publication Guidance. The first principle states that the products of Government social research will be made publicly available (subject to any ethical and legal constraints). The Department's ALBs are expected to operate under the same principles. ALBs are responsible for the research which they publish and the DCMS Head of Analysis is required to provide advice and guidance when needed.

Tourism

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what estimate her Department has made of the UK's market share of the international tourism industry in each of the last 10 years.

Hugh Robertson: The following table provides details of the UK's market share of international tourism in the last 10 years. These data were sourced from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and VisitBritain.
	
		
			 Percentage 
			  International tourist arrivals International tourism receipts 
			 2011 3.0 2.8 
			 2010 3.0 2.8 
			 2009 3.2 3.0 
			 2008 3.3 3.2 
			 2007 3.4 3.7 
			 2006 3.6 4.0 
			 2005 3.5 3.8 
			 2004 3.4 3.8 
			 2003 3.3 3.7 
			 2002 3.2 3.7

War Memorials

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the current state of preservation of war memorials.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) provides funding to ensure war memorials are maintained and conserved to a high standard and to assess what further work is needed to ensure war memorials are kept in a good condition through its own grant scheme and the work of its sponsored bodies English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Imperial War Museum.
	There are an estimated 100,000 war memorials in the UK, of which the majority are in England. English Heritage is exploring with partner organisations how the condition of this very large and significant part of the nation's heritage can be assessed in a practical way. Some progress has already been made by War Memorials Trust and the Smartwater Foundation.
	The Imperial War Museum's War Memorials Archive (formerly UK National Inventory of War Memorials) is working to compile a record of all UK war memorials and the names commemorated on them. This is to promote their appreciation, use and preservation. Further details are available at:
	http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/
	The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is taking forward the War Memorial Action Group (WMAG). The Membership of the WMAG is comprised of DCMS, funders, heritage organisations and representatives of the local and voluntary sectors. The principal purpose of this group is to review the issues around the recording, understanding, protection and conservation of war memorials and to identify what further work is needed to ensure they are kept in good condition and continue to be a focus for commemoration of those who gave their lives in the service of the country. It has already met and, given the wider interest in war memorials, the Group will regularly report on progress in this area.
	Around 1,200 war memorials are listed or scheduled and subject to the protections afforded by those designation regimes. In addition, English Heritage is working in partnership with local authorities, the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and concerned local groups on the Heritage Crime Programme. This programme aims to protect vulnerable buildings and sites, including war memorials, from all threats, particularly metal theft and criminal damage.
	The DCMS Memorial Grant Scheme provides grants towards the VAT paid by charities and faith groups on the construction, repair and maintenance of public memorial structures. The scheme has an annual budget of £0.5 million per year for this spending period.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Apprentices

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many apprentices were employed by (a) his Department and (b) its principal contractors in each of the last five years; and what information his Department holds on the number of apprentices employed by local government in that period.

Brandon Lewis: Twenty one external and four internal apprentices have been employed in the Department for Communities and Local Government over the last five years. External applicants were a mixture of either already in employment or unemployed. They were contracted to work 36 hours per week and placed on an administrative officer salary of £23,218.
	The Department does not keep a central record of how many individuals have been employed by local government in that period.

Audit Commission

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he plans to take to ensure consistency in audits following the abolition of the Audit Commission.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 6 September 2012
	The draft Local Audit Bill includes the creation of a new regulatory framework for local public audit. To ensure that the high standards of auditing continue, the National Audit Office will develop the code of audit practice and supporting guidance that will set out how auditors perform their role. The Financial Reporting Council, as the overall regulator, will be responsible for the oversight of recognised supervisory bodies (professional accountancy bodies) that will supervise the work of auditors and monitor the quality of audits undertaken.
	Full details are set out in the Command Paper, available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/localgovernmentfinance/futurelocalaudit/

Council Tax Benefits

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government by what methodology the forecast council tax benefit expenditure for 2013-14 has been established; how it will be updated to reflect recent trends; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today (PQ 118709) where the methodology regarding the forecast was given.
	The forecasts will next be updated to inform the 2012 Autumn Statement, and will be published shortly afterwards. This will take account of all administrative and expenditure outturn data received from local authorities since the Budget 2012 forecast, and will review the key modelling assumptions.

Council Tax Benefits

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assumptions his Department has recently employed in forecasting council tax benefit expenditure as part of the process of setting indicative allocations for council tax support; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Indicative council tax support allocations in 2013-14, published here with methodology:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/2146644
	are based on the forecast subsidised council tax benefit expenditure in England in 2013-14. This is calculated by applying England's share of the 2010-11 subsidised expenditure in Great Britain to the forecast subsidised expenditure in Great Britain in 2013-14, both published by the Department for Work and Pensions here:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure
	Each local authority's share of the England total is found by applying the billing authority's share of the 2010-11 subsidised council tax benefit expenditure and then the local authority's share of the area band D council tax bill in 2012-13. An adjustment is made if the local authority's budget pressure is greater than 0.860% or less than 0.176%.
	The forecast of subsidised expenditure in 2013-14 for Great Britain is built on data about past caseloads and expenditure and uses a number of assumptions from the Office for Budgetary Responsibility to estimate the future number of households who would have received the benefit had it continued, and on average how much benefit each household would have received. The data source underlying the forecasts is the Single Housing Benefit Data Extract—a monthly administrative data return from local authorities, the headline figures from which are published here:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=hbctb
	The forecast is built by estimating the future volumes of a number of subgroups receiving council tax benefit. These subgroups are defined by the other welfare benefits the household receives and assumptions are made around the proportion of each projected benefit population who will also receive council tax benefit. The amount each group receives is uprated using assumptions on future council tax growth published here
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/wordpress/docs/Council-tax-growth-March-12-EFO.pdf
	alongside estimates of growth in incomes for those on the council tax benefit taper.
	The Department for Work and Pensions intend to publish a document with further details of the forecast methodology and trends by the end of September 2012.

Fire Services

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will list the fire control rooms in England.

Brandon Lewis: My Department ended the top down regionalisation of control rooms and does not maintain a list of control rooms. The responsibility for fire control rooms in England now rests with locally accountable fire and rescue authorities.

Fire Stations: Closures

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire stations were closed in (a) England and Wales, (b) the East Midlands, (c) Nottinghamshire and (d) Ashfield constituency in each of the last three years.

Brandon Lewis: Numbers of fire stations by fire and rescue authority are held centrally, while numbers of closures are not. While the Department's responsibility is for England, figures including Wales are shown as requested.
	The numbers of fire stations in England and Wales, England only, the East Midlands and Nottinghamshire fire and rescue authority for the last six years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of fire stations(1) at 31 March 
			  2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 England and Wales 1599 1595 1596 1593 1583 1572 
			 England 1450 1446 1447 1433 1434 1423 
			 East Midlands fire and rescue authorities 136 136 135 135 135 135 
			 Nottinghamshire fire and rescue authority 25 25 24 24 24 24 
			 (1) Excludes five volunteer stations in England and two volunteer stations in Wales. Source: Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy

Homelessness

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of homeless people in each (a) local authority area and (b) Parliamentary constituency in each of the last 20 years. [Official Report, 17 September 2012, Vol. 550, c. 3MC.]

Mark Prisk: The Department publishes statistics on homelessness for England. Figures for the other UK countries are a matter for the devolved Administrations. I have placed in the Library of the House two tables setting out the numbers of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to ensure that suitable accommodation is available) for each local authority area and for each financial year from 1997-98 to 2011-12. One table covers the period 1997-98 to 2008-09 and the other one covers the period following local government restructuring, from 2009-10 to 2011-12. This information has been collected from local authorities on quarterly P1E returns.
	Figures at local authority level for earlier years are not readily available: some may be available from paper returns, but only at disproportionate cost.
	Quarterly figures for recent years are also available from the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/publicationshomelessness
	The available figures for numbers of people estimated or counted as rough sleepers within each local authority area from 1998 to 2011 are published on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/homelessnessstatistics/roughsleepingcounts
	Please note that the methodology involved was reviewed and changing during 2010, meaning that figures for 2010 and 2011 are not comparable with those for earlier years.
	The Department does not collect or publish information on the number of homeless people in individual parliamentary constituencies, except for the few cases where a constituency is coterminous with the area of a local authority, which are covered in the answer above.
	Homelessness acceptances remain lower than in 28 of the last 30 years and are still under half the level it reached under the Labour Government (49,000 in 2011 compared with 136,000 in 2003).
	We are investing £3,900 million in homelessness prevention over four years 2011-12 to 2014-15). We provided an additional £70 million last year to help local agencies prevent and tackle homelessness.

Housing: Construction

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new homes have been granted planning permission on land owned by the Government since May 2010; and how many of those homes were affordable.

Nicholas Boles: DCLG collects information on the number of residential planning approvals granted but it is not possible to determine from this information the number of homes granted permission, nor whether those permissions were on land owned by the Government.

Housing: Construction

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Government has received from the sale of land for building new houses since May 2010.

Mark Prisk: Specific information about how much the Government has received from the sale of its land for new homes is not collected centrally. My Department's focus is on working with Government Departments to support them in accelerating the release of their surplus land for development. It is for each Department to obtain best value within the current market conditions, as set out in ‘Managing Public Money’ (HM Treasury), whether it be for housing, or other uses. And importantly the proceeds from this can be reinvested, for example in health services.
	As part of the public land programme we have identified land with capacity for over 100,000 homes and have committed to use Build Now, Pay Later terms on as much land as possible. On 6 September we announced a package of measures to support growth, including measures that will see land brought to the market more quickly, alongside improving the chances of getting development started.

Housing: Co-operatives

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps he has taken to promote more co-operative housing; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The new neighbourhood planning regime provides an opportunity for housing co-operatives to shape developments in their area. In conjunction with the recently announced support funding for custom-build projects, these proposals should prove an attractive proposition to the co-operative housing sector.
	In a bid to ease the regulatory burdens on co-operatives, the Localism Act 2011 exempted houses in multiple occupation that are controlled or managed by a co-operative society from the houses in multiple occupation licensing regime.
	The Government and the Homes and Communities Agency are currently engaging with the Mutual Housing Group, which includes the Confederation of Co-operative Housing and other community led housing groups, on their proposals for an investment fund to support development in the sector.

Housing: Sales

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that contracts between sellers and buyers of houses are made binding earlier in the process of house sales; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 6 September 2012
	Under the current home buying and selling system in England and Wales, properties are sold “subject to contract”, but the transaction is not finalised until contracts are exchanged.
	However, it is worth noting that buyers and sellers in England and Wales are free to choose from a range of options that can be used by those seeking more commitment and certainty that their transaction will be completed. These include ‘lock-out’ agreements, where the seller enters a binding agreement not to accept another offer within a certain period; ‘option to purchase’ where the seller grants the buyer a binding option to purchase the property at the agreed price within a set timescale; ‘conditional contracts’, where buyer and seller enter into a contract as soon as terms have been agreed, subject to certain conditions being satisfied; or ‘costs guarantee’, where both buyer and seller agree to pay the other side's costs, if they withdraw from the transaction. There is nothing to stop buyers and sellers agreeing to any of these arrangements on a voluntary basis. They each have their merits, but can be difficult to operate in the English housing market where chains are commonplace and can be long.
	I do not think it would be right to make any of these arrangements compulsory for all sales—consumers should be free to consider them on a case by case basis. Given the flexibility of the present system, we have no plans for reform in this area at the present time.

Licensing

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what permits and licences his Department and its public bodies issue to businesses.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government is able to grant licences to businesses for the re-use of its Crown copyright material, under delegated authority from the Director of the Office of Public Sector Information/Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Otherwise the Department and its public bodies do not issue permits or licences to businesses.

Local Government Finance

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what advice his Department provides to local authorities on the issuing of local authority bonds.

Brandon Lewis: Under the prudential system local authorities are able to borrow for capital projects without Government consent, provided that they can afford the borrowing costs. Authorities are free to choose the source of these loans, and may borrow, should they wish to do so, by issuing bonds.
	As such the Department for Communities and Local Government does not provide guidance or advice on the issuing or raising of bonds to authorities.

Local Government Finance: Sefton

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what reserves and balances are registered with his Department by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council.

Brandon Lewis: Provisional outturn information on the reserve levels at 31 March 2012 for Sefton metropolitan borough council is given in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			 Schools reserves level 18,549 
			 Other earmarked financial reserves level 41,497 
			 Unallocated financial reserves level 3,711 
			 Source: Department for Communities and Local Government Revenue Outturn returns.

Parish Councils

Mark Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to granting the power to initiate a community governance review to the charter trustees of towns, without the need to petition 10 per cent of the town's electorate; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Government have no plans to grant the power to initiate a community governance review to the charter trustees of towns, without the need to petition the electorate. However the Department for Communities and Local Government is preparing a consultation on making it easier to set up new town and parish councils, to which representations on this issue may be submitted. We anticipate that the consultation will be published shortly.

Pay

Mark Pawsey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the answer of 5 September 2011, Official Report, column 10W, on departmental pay, what the estimated saving to the public purse was from lower staff wage costs arising from industrial action by staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies on 10 May 2012.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 5 September 2012
	The following table sets out the details for Department for Communities and Local Government and those arm's length bodies where staff participated in the industrial action on 10 May 2012.
	
		
			  Saving (£) 
			 Department for Communities and Local Government 23,228.01 
			 Planning Inspectorate (PINS) 7,100 
			 Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre 364 
			 Note: Costs are excluding employer's national insurance and pension contributions.

Planning Permission

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average time taken was from receipt of planning application to decision by planning authorities in rural district councils in the latest period for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 5 September 2012
	The average time taken from receipt of planning application to decision by planning authorities in rural district councils is not centrally available.

Planning Permission

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average time taken was from receipt of planning application to decision by planning authorities in National Parks in the latest period for which figures are available.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 5 September 2012
	The average time taken from receipt of planning application to decision by planning authorities in National Parks is not centrally available.

Right to Buy: Advertising

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his Department's budget for advertising and public awareness is in 2011-12; and what proportion of that budget has been spent on promoting the right to buy.

Brandon Lewis: The Department's total programme expenditure on marketing and communications for 2011-12 was £1,187,000. The Fire Kills campaign accounted for the majority of this expenditure. A total of £17,728 was spent on right to buy products during 2011-12, mainly comprising new leaflets, summarising the reinvigorated scheme, for local authorities and other social landlords to distribute to potentially eligible tenants, A2 and A3 posters for landlords to display and reprinted application forms. These were available when the reinvigorated scheme was launched, following parliamentary approval, so landlords were able to let their tenants know and respond to any demand for information immediately. We are committed to ensuring that tenants are aware of the increased discount levels and their rights, and to helping them to make well informed decisions.

Social Rented Housing

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the total stock of social housing was in (a) each English region and (b) each London local authority in (i) 1982, (ii) 1991, (iii) 2001 and (iv) 2011.

Mark Prisk: Statistics on the stock of housing in England, split by tenure, are published on the Department for Communities and Local Government website at the following link. Taken together, the housing association and local authority tenures comprise the social rented housing stock.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/
	Further detailed breakdowns of these data, including for individual local authorities, can be found in the suite of live tables at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/stockincludingvacants/livetables/

Third Sector

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken to put into practice the recommendations of the National Audit Office's review of Central Government's implementation of the National Compact published in January 2012.

Brandon Lewis: holding answer 7 September 2012
	Following the National Audit Office's report, the Department for Communities and Local Government has:
	nominated a Senior Responsible Office for the Compact and a civil society liaison officer responsible for day to day promotion and management of Compact implementation;
	detailed within its business plan (published May 2012) specific activities on which it will report on Compact compliance; and
	embedded the principles of the Compact within the new finance training on grants which is being rolled out across the Department, and the financial guidance on working with the Voluntary and Community Sector.

EDUCATION

Frank Website

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding has been allocated to the Frank website for 2012-13; and what his Department has contributed to that allocation.

Anna Soubry: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	The Department of Health funds the Frank website and has allocated £250,000 (exclusive of VAT) this financial year to run and develop the website.

GCSE: English Language

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what percentage of schools had a reduction in the proportion of pupils receiving grades A*-C in GCSE English from the previous year in (a) 2010 and (b) 2011; how large these reductions were; and if he will make a statement.

Elizabeth Truss: The information requested is given in the following tables:
	
		
			 (a) The difference between the percentage of pupils in schools(1) achieving GCSE English(2) grades A* to C in 2009 and 2010. Coverage: England 
			 Percentage point reduction Number of schools Percentage of schools  
			 More than 10 159 5 1,030 (35%) of schools showed a decrease 
			 10 23 1 (3)— 
			 9 52 2 (3)— 
			 8 58 2 (3)— 
			 7 60 2 (3)— 
			 6 83 3 (3)— 
			 5 90 3 (3)— 
			 4 106 4 (3)— 
			 3 101 3 (3)— 
			 2 131 4 (3)— 
			 1 167 6 (3)— 
			 (1) The analysis includes mainstream maintained schools with greater than 10 pupils and open for both years, changes in school status (converting to become a sponsored academy) have not been considered. (2) Some of the larger differences will be due to a change in the qualifications being taken; for example, double award GCSEs which have not been considered. (3) Indicates brace. 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) The difference between the percentage of pupils in schools(1) achieving GCSE English(2) grades A* to C in 2010 and 2011. Coverage: England 
			 Percentage point reduction Number of schools Percentage of schools  
			 More than 10 121 4 1,010 (34%) of schools showed a decrease 
			 10 36 1 (3)— 
			 9 37 1 (3)— 
			 8 50 2 (3)— 
			 7 69 2 (3)— 
			 6 86 3 (3)— 
			 5 81 3 (3)— 
			 4 94 3 (3)— 
			 3 105 4 (3)— 
			 2 141 5 (3)— 
		
	
	
		
			 1 190 6 (3)— 
			 (1) The analysis includes mainstream maintained schools with greater than 10 pupils and open for both years, changes in school status (converting to become a sponsored academy) have not been considered. (2) Some of the larger differences will be due to a change in the qualifications being taken; for example, double award GCSEs which have not been considered. (3) Indicates a brace.

HEALTH

Antidepressants

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been prescribed antidepressants in each of the last five years.

Norman Lamb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the then Minister of State, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Chelmsford (Mr Burns), gave on 11 June 2012, Official Report, columns 118-19W, to the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane).

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what analysis his Department has undertaken into the effect on low income groups of setting the cap on individual contributions to residential end-of-life care at (a) £35,000 and (b) higher than £35,000;
	(2)  whether his Department has undertaken any demographic research into the socio-economic groups which would be most affected by setting a cap on individual contributions to residential end-of-life care.

Norman Lamb: The Department published a progress report on funding reform in July 2012, which contains analysis of the Dilnot Commission proposals for a cap on care costs and of increasing the upper capital limit for means-tested support to £100,000. The report discusses how these proposals would affect different socio-economic groups.
	A copy of the progress report has already been placed in the Library.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people from Liverpool, Walton constituency are receiving drug treatment through the NHS.

Anna Soubry: The information is not collected in the format requested. The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse advise that 4,919 adults received specialist drug treatment in Liverpool in 2010-11. Data are not available by parliamentary constituency area.

Euthanasia

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the number of patients who have requested assisted suicide in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The Department does not hold this information.
	Guidance for health care staff who may have to deal with patients requesting help to die is available from the Royal College of Nursing (‘When someone asks for your assistance to die,’ October 2011) and from the British Medical Association (‘Responding to patient requests relating to assisted suicide: guidance for doctors in England, Wales and Northern Ireland,’ July 2010).

Flunitrazepam

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women were admitted to hospital with symptoms related to the drug flunitrazepam in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: Information on the number of women admitted to hospital with symptoms related to flunitrazepam is not available or held centrally.

Health Services: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) health care assistants were employed by (i) North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, (ii) Hillingdon Hospital and (iii) Charing Cross Hospital on 5 April (A) 2010, (B) 2011 and (C) 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The numbers of national health service hospital and community health services staff in each specified staff group at North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which includes Charing Cross Hospital, as at 30 September in 2009, 2010 and 2011 are shown in the following table. Information for 2012 is not yet available and is due to be published in spring 2013.
	
		
			 Organisation 2009 2010 2011 
			 Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust    
			 Doctors 343 376 388 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 791 810 814 
			 Health care assistants 301 266 290 
			     
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust    
			 Doctors 700 746 770 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 1,421 1,622 1,615 
			 Health care assistants 307 300 318 
		
	
	
		
			     
			 Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust    
			 Doctors 1,964 1,704 1,698 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 3,190 3,344 3,370 
			 Health care assistants 357 412 452 
			 Notes: 1. Separate figures for Charing Cross Hospital are not centrally held. Instead, figures are given for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which includes Charing Cross Hospital. 2. Healthcare assistants are defined as those staff included in the Non-Medical Workforce Census with the H1 occupation code. Other staff who work in support of doctors and nurses include unqualified nursing staff, support workers and clerical and estates staff and are not included here. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census and Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Health Services: Young People

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if his Department will publish a response to the report of the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum;
	(2)  if he will implement the recommendations relevant to his Department contained in the report of the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum;
	(3)  if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Education on the recommendations of the report of the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum;
	(4)  if he will appoint a deputy responsible for health services for children and young people reporting to the Chief Medical Officer.

Daniel Poulter: The Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum published its report to the Secretary of State for Health on 26 July 2012 and the recommendations made, including appointing a deputy responsible for health services for children and young people reporting to the Chief Medical Officer, are being carefully considered.
	The forum's report is being used as a basis for compiling the Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Strategy. Discussions are under way with groups and organisations that have an interest in and responsibility for improved health outcomes for children and young people, including the Department for Education, in order that they can agree their commitments to meeting the objectives of the strategy. The strategy itself is due to be published in the autumn.

Health Services: Young People

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ask the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to expand and prioritise its Quality Standards work programme as it applies to children and young people.

Daniel Poulter: The library of around 180 Quality Standard topics already referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) includes a number of topics specific to children and young people, as well as topics that will cover adults, children and young people together. We have asked NICE to give due weight to matters affecting children and young people in developing Quality Standards intended to be relevant to services for people of all ages.
	The independent Children and Young People's Health Outcomes Forum, which reported in July 2012, made several recommendations in relation to what NICE could contribute in order that improved outcomes can be delivered for children and young people. Department of Health officials are liaising with NICE and the NHS Commissioning Board on the forum's recommendations. The NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for referring NHS Quality Standard topics to NICE from April 2013.

Health Visitors

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to implement any new policies or issue guidelines on maximum caseload sizes for health visitors.

Daniel Poulter: The Department is not intending to implement any policies or issue guidance relating to the maximum caseload for health visitors. This is most effectively and safely determined at the local level by the organisation providing the service through local monitoring and support for individual health visitors. This ensures that local factors, particularly the demographics of the population and the associated level of need, can help determine not only caseload size, but also the appropriate skill mix of staff in local health visitor teams.
	The Department acknowledges that relatively high caseload sizes can be challenging. However, the Government are increasing the number of health visitors by an additional 4,200 (by April 2015) from a baseline of 8,092 (May 2010). This will ensure availability of more staff, thereby allowing local services more flexibility in how they respond to demand for support for mothers and families.

Health Visitors

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent qualified health visitors were employed in the NHS in (a) March 2012 and (b) March 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The total number of qualified full-time equivalent (FTE) health visitors in the national health service in England in March 2012 was 8,199. In March 2010, the number of qualified FTE health visitors was 8,175. Many additional health visitors are currently being trained.
	The figures are taken from the monthly workforce statistics published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre. They do not include health visitors employed by organisations that do not use the Electronic Staff Record (ESR), such as local authorities and some social enterprises.
	The health visitor minimum data set has collected the number of health visitors that are not captured by the ESR since August 2011 from strategic health authorities. In August 2011, the total number of non-ESR health visitors was 192. In March 2012, this had risen to 258.

Health Visitors

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent qualified health visitors he expects to be employed across the NHS in each month from April 2012 to April 2015.

Daniel Poulter: The total number of full-time equivalent health visitors employed by national health service organisations in England in April 2012 was 8,396.
	The currently planned total number employed will be 9,265 in April 2013, 10,822 in April 2014 and 12,336 in April 2015.
	The monthly breakdown of planned health visitor numbers are not collected centrally.

Health Visitors

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to maintain the number of full-time equivalent qualified health visitors employed in the NHS after the Health Visitor Implementation Programme.

Daniel Poulter: Our commitment is to increase health visitors by 4,200 (from a May 2010 baseline) by April 2015. The Government's four-year transformational programme will develop health visiting services that are universal and energised, and will improve health outcomes for mums and families. The number of full-time equivalent (FTE) health visitors(1) has increased by 339 (4.2%) since May 2010. The total number is now 8,431 (as at 31 May 2012). The number of health visitor trainees has increased markedly, with around 1,600 in training 2011-12.
	The Department of Health is facilitating the spread of good practice and innovation stemming from the health visitor early implementer sites, which are working to deliver the new health visiting service model, thereby helping to lead a step-change and improvement in the way services are provided across the country, which will make a tangible difference to the lives of mums and families looked after by health visitors.
	The NHS Commissioning Board (NHS CB) will take on the responsibility for commissioning health visiting services from April 2013, including implementation of the new service model and workforce growth. By April 2015, the commitment is to transfer the commissioning of these services from the NHS CB to local authorities.
	Through their contribution to joint strategic needs assessments, local authorities develop a range of information enabling them to understand the health needs of individuals and communities. They are therefore best placed to decide where to employ health visitors so that they effectively support young mothers and families.
	Given the vital role that health visitors play in supporting families, it is anticipated that as part of preparation for this onwards transfer of commissioning responsibility, the NHS CB will want to engage its partner organisations in focusing on maintaining the current drive to increase health visitor numbers and hence maintain the number of full-time equivalent health visitors employed in the NHS from that point onwards. Availability of relevant information about improvements in outcomes within the Public Health Outcomes Framework(2), would inform activity that demonstrates the case for sustaining the numbers employed.
	(1 )This figure is taken from the health visitor minimum data set, which collects from strategic health authorities the number of health visitors on the electronic staff record (ESR) in addition to those not recorded on ESR.. The total figure provided includes over 200 health visitors not counted by the ESR, (e.g. directly employed by local authorities and social enterprises). The data do not include bank and agency staff.
	(2 “)Improving outcomes and supporting transparency. Part 1: A public health outcomes framework for England, 2013 to 2016”, (published January 2012).

Health Visitors

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many full-time equivalent qualified health visitors who had left the profession returned to the profession between April 2010 and April 2012.

Daniel Poulter: The number of health visitors who left the profession and returned to practice is not held centrally for the time period requested.
	We are currently trialling a data collection that may provide this information in the future. The health visitor minimum data set has collected the number of health visitors that returned to practice, but only since July 2012. If the trial proves successful in providing reliable data, we hope to be able to publish from November 2012.
	It is important to note that as part of commitment to increase the number of health visitors, the number of trainees increased from 545 in 2010-11 to 1,606 in 2011-12, an increase of 1,061.

Health Visitors

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many qualified health visitor roles existed in the NHS in (a) March 2012 and (b) March 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The total number of qualified health visitor roles in the national health service in England in March 2012 was 10,220. In March 2010, the number of qualified health visitor roles was 10,397.
	Role count is the total count of specific roles within an organisation and some people may have multiple roles either within or across organisations. This is determined by the unique assignment number given to individuals and each of their roles within the electronic staff record (ESR). Role count is only collected through the ESR and therefore the above figures will not include health visitor roles in employers who do not use the ESR.
	Role count differs to full-time equivalent, which is based on the proportion of time staff work in a role. The reduction in the number of health visitor roles may be because a greater number of posts are being held by an individual (single role) as opposed to job shares (multiple roles). However, the size of the workforce increased over the same period. Just looking at the ESR, the full-time equivalent (FTE) number of health visitors increased by 24 (0.3%), meaning that there are fewer health visitors were working more hours in fewer roles.

Health Visitors

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned to monitor the effect of increased health visitor numbers on child and family health.

Daniel Poulter: The Department expects to see the beneficial impact for mothers and families of the increased number of health visitors by 2015. The resultant improvements to care and support for children and families are outlined in the Public Health Outcomes Framework(1).
	(1 “)Improving outcomes and supporting transparency. Part 1: A public health outcomes framework for England, 2013 to 2016” (published January 2012)

Hepatitis

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that public health commissioners reduce the gap between the number of people being diagnosed with hepatitis C and the number of people who receive treatment for the condition.

Anna Soubry: From 1 April 2013, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will have a statutory obligation to arrange for the provision of health services it considers necessary to meet the requirements of those patients for whom they are responsible. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 will require CCGs to act with a view to securing continuous improvement in the quality of services provided to individuals in relation to the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of illness, including hepatitis C.

Hepatitis

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department is providing for public health commissioners within local authorities to ensure hepatitis C services are appropriately commissioned from 1 April 2013.

Anna Soubry: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is currently developing public health guidance for health care professionals and the national health service on promoting and offering hepatitis C (and hepatitis B) testing to those at risk.
	From 1 April 2013, Public Health England and local authorities will support commissioners to use evidence and guidelines published by NICE when commissioning services, including those for hepatitis C.

Hospitals: Admissions

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which areas the five highest increases for admissions to hospital occurred in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The information is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 Count of finished admission episodes (FAEs)(1) by primary care trust of responsibility(2 )and year-on-year change for the years 2006-07 to 2010-11(3) 
			 PCT name 2006-07 2007-08 Percentage change 
			 Milton Keynes PCT 35,208 59,594 69.3 
			 Hounslow PCT 39,721 54,284 36.7 
			 Richmond and Twickenham PCT 31,717 37,247 17.4 
			 Warrington PCT 44,489 52,034 17.0 
			 Mid Essex PCT 66,018 76,913 16.5 
		
	
	
		
			 PCT name 2007-08 2008-09 Percentage change 
			 Isle of Wight NHS PCT 20,180 32,704 62.1 
			 Barnet PCT 62,675 85,792 36.9 
		
	
	
		
			 Enfield PCT 55,464 75,079 35.4 
			 Coventry Teaching PCT 75,273 90,232 19.9 
			 Mid Essex PCT 76,913 89,138 15.9 
		
	
	
		
			 PCT name 2008-09 2009-10 Percentage change 
			 Bexley Care Trust 54,160 61,113 12.8 
			 Stoke on Trent PCT 76,705 85,759 11.8 
			 Blackburn with Darwen PCT 44,979 49,550 10.2 
			 Birmingham East and North PCT 120,224 131,506 9.4 
			 South Staffordshire PCT 164,215 178,740 8.8 
		
	
	
		
			 PCT name 2009-10 2010-11 Percentage change 
			 Gateshead PCT 55,107 62,396 13.2 
			 Waltham Forest PCT 65,797 72,132 9.6 
			 Eastern and Coastal Kent PCT 180,204 196,936 9.3 
			 Somerset PCT 146,434 158,561 8.3 
			 Oxfordshire PCT 139,969 149,730 7.0 
			 (1) A finished admission episode (FAE) is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FAEs are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. (2) Commissioning responsibility for individual patients rests with the primary care trust (PCT) with whom the patient is registered. This means that patients with a GP in one PCT area may reside in a neighbouring or other area but remain the responsibility of the PCT with whom their GP of registration is associated. PCTs are also responsible for non-registered patients who are resident within their boundaries. (3) HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Note: PCT boundaries changed in 2006, so annual comparisons from 2007-08 onwards are presented. Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre. Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.

Hospitals: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions have taken place about the possibility of a merger between St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals and North Cheshire Hospitals; and who has been involved in any such discussions.

Anna Soubry: We are aware that the board of St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has discussed a partnership with Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as one of the options they will consider in determining a strategy that will secure the sustainable provision of high quality healthcare services. This options appraisal is in support of the trust's plan for achievement of foundation trust status as a stand alone organisation or as part of some new organisational configuration. No process has yet been initiated to formally seek a partner by the trust and would only be commenced if the options appraisal were to conclude that approach as the future strategy for the organisation with the necessary stakeholder support for this.

Hyperactivity: Children

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to encourage research into the extent of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder amongst children.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.
	The findings of a study of the prevalence of ADHD symptoms in a community sample of children in the United Kingdom were published in 2010 in the ‘Journal of Attention Disorders’. This research was supported by a grant awarded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

Hyperactivity: Children

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to monitor the prescription of psychotropic drugs to children;
	(2)  how many prescriptions for drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were issued free of charge because the patient was under 16 years of age in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Daniel Poulter: The prescription of psychotropic drugs to children is not monitored or collected centrally.
	Information on the number of prescriptions issued to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to patients under 16 is not collected centrally.

Hyperactivity: Children

Jesse Norman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that psychotropic drugs are only prescribed to children in accordance with the guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.

Daniel Poulter: Health care professionals are expected to fully take into account the guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) when exercising their clinical judgment.
	In December 2011, a letter was sent by the Chief Medical Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Pharmaceutical Officer and NHS Medical Director to a variety of health care professionals, including general practitioners and Medical Directors of NHS trusts, which reminded them of the relevance of NICE guidelines in delivering mental health care to children and young people.
	Health care professionals do have the right to prescribe these drugs if they feel it is clinically justified and in keeping with specialist consensus given the individual care needs of the child and in consultation with the parent or guardian.

Injuries: Animals

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people of each (a) age and (b) sex were hospitalised with suspected animal attack injuries in each area in each of the last five years; and what type of animal caused the injury in each case.

Anna Soubry: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

NHS: Internet

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many unique visitors to the NHS Information Service for Parents website were recorded in each month since its launch;
	(2)  how many unique views of videos on the NHS Information Service for Parents website were recorded in each month since its launch.

Daniel Poulter: The following table gives a breakdown of information service for parents (ISP) visits, each month, since the launch of the service in May 2012, together with pregnancy and baby pages visits to which users are directed:
	
		
			  Unique visitors to ISP Microsite Visits to “Pregnancy and baby” pages on NHS Choices 
			 May 2012 2,030 683,604 
			 June 2012 7,358 745,736 
			 July 2012 6,655 799,076 
			 August 2012 6,684 886,833 
			 Total 22,727 3,115,248 
		
	
	Users of the service can access new specially commissioned short videos on pregnancy and parenting skills. The following table gives a breakdown of unique video views of information service for parents videos, each month, since the launch of the service:
	
		
			  Videos viewed on NHS Choices site Videos viewed on YouTube 
			 May 2012 27,771 (1)— 
			 June 2012 53,319 (1)— 
			 July 2012 58,551 (1)— 
			 August 2012 62,126 (1)— 
			 Total 201,767 105,064 
			 (1) Monthly breakdown not available from YouTube

NHS: Internet

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many individuals signed up to receive (a) text messages and (b) emails from the NHS Information Service for Parents website in each month since its launch;
	(2)  how many individuals are signed up to receive (a) text messages and (b) emails from the NHS Information Service for Parents website.

Daniel Poulter: Users of the service can sign up to receive emails and/or SMS text messages related to the service and their baby. The information service for parents monthly sign-up rate and totals for emails and SMS text is as set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Date Total sign ups Email sign up SMS sign up 
			 May 2012 (from 18 May 2012) 8,219 8,003 216 
			 June 2012 13,755 13,390 365 
			 July 2012 13,330 12,863 467 
			 August 2012 12,875 12,442 433 
			 Totals 48,179 46,678 1,481

NHS: Internet

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much it cost to set up the NHS Information Service for Parents website;
	(2)  how much the NHS Information Service for Parents website cost to run and maintain in each month since its launch.

Daniel Poulter: On 18 May 2012, the Government launched a new digital service for parents. Parents are invited to sign up from early pregnancy to receive regular free e-mail and SMS messages offering high quality advice, and signposting them to trusted sources of information.
	The cost of setting up the Information Service for Parents website was £404,190.
	The monthly cost to run and maintain the Information Service for Parents website is £23,226.
	Service support for the website itself is not costed, charged or invoiced separately and is part of the overall cost of the provision of NHS Choices.

NHS: Reorganisation

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health under what circumstances he would intervene in the case of a major configuration of NHS services; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The reconfiguration of health services is a matter for the local national health service. There should be public consultation and any changes are subject to the four tests namely:
	first, that they have support of general practitioner commissioners;
	second, arrangements for public and patient engagement, including local authorities, must be strengthened;
	third, there must be greater clarity about the clinical evidence base underpinning any proposals; and
	fourth, any proposals must take into account the need to develop and support patient choice.
	If plans are contested, the Overview and Scrutiny Committees of the relevant local authority can refer these to the Secretary of State for Health. The Independent Reconfiguration Panel considers the objections and advises the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State can then accept or reject advice.

Older People: Day Centres

Steve Rotheram: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government ways to market council-run day centres for the elderly in (a) hospitals and (b) GP surgeries; what the cost to his Department would be of such marketing; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: We currently have no plans to discuss this aspect of integrated working. It is important for older people and their carers that they experience care which is joined-up between the national health service and social care to meet their individual needs. The availability of services to meet the needs of individuals is an issue best addressed locally by Health and Well-being Boards. They provide the forum for local authorities, the NHS and wider partners to come together, understand local needs, and work towards integrating local provision as informed by their Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. The local authority has a duty to inform its population of care services available in its area and can do so with NHS partners.

Out-patients: Attendance

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital appointments were missed in (a) Gloucestershire, (b) the South West and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Anna Soubry: The information is shown in the following tables:
	
		
			 South Gloucestershire PCT 
			 Number 
			  First attendances seen First attendances missed (did not attend) First appointments Subsequent attendances seen Subsequent attendances missed (did not attend) 
			 2007-08 57,120 3,903 61,023 134,034 12,717 
			 2008-09 56,281 3,632 59,913 142,705 12,775 
			 2009-10 58,398 3,979 62,377 146,738 13,523 
			 2010-11 61,347 3,568 64,915 147,210 13,257 
			 2011-12 64,138 3,755 67,893 137,304 11,460 
		
	
	
		
			 Number 
			  Subsequent appointments Total attendances seen Total attendances missed (did not attend) Total appointments 
			 2007-08 146,751 191,154 16,620 207,774 
			 2008-09 155,480 198,986 16,407 215,393 
			 2009-10 160,261 205,136 17,502 222,638 
			 2010-11 160,467 208,557 16,825 225,382 
			 2011-12 148,764 201,442 15,215 216,657 
		
	
	
		
			 Gloucestershire PCT 
			 Number 
			  First attendances seen First attendances missed (did not attend) First appointments Subsequent attendances seen Subsequent attendances missed (did not attend) 
			 2007-08 138,955 10,204 149,159 270,930 26,510 
			 2008-09 159,968 11,224 171,192 295,903 28,674 
			 2009-10 159,275 11,718 170,993 290,981 28,662 
			 2010-11 164,378 10,786 175,164 300,463 26,911 
			 2011-12 164,943 9,079 174,022 302,051 24,024 
		
	
	
		
			 Number 
			  Subsequent appointments Total attendances seen Total attendances missed (did not attend) Total appointments 
			 2007-08 297,440 409,885 36,714 446,599 
			 2008-09 324,577 455,871 39,898 495,769 
			 2009-10 319,643 450,256 40,380 490,636 
			 2010-11 327,374 464,841 37,697 502,538 
			 2011-12 326,075 466,994 33,103 500,097 
		
	
	
		
			 South West Strategic Health Authority 
			 Number 
			  First attendances seen First attendances missed (did not attend) First appointments Subsequent attendances seen Subsequent attendances missed (did not attend) 
			 2007-08 1,390,020 99,528 1,489,548 2,608,984 248,666 
			 2008-09 1,480,864 101,743 1,582,607 2,767,005 253,966 
		
	
	
		
			 2009-10 1,526,974 106,868 1,633,842 2,851,802 263,575 
			 2010-11 1,568,547 103,893 1,672,440 2,971,254 258,972 
			 2011-12 1,615,085 100,042 1,715,127 3,000,137 246,572 
		
	
	
		
			 Number 
			  Subsequent appointments Total attendances seen Total attendances missed (did not attend) Total appointments 
			 2007-08 2,857,650 3,999,004 348,194 4,347,198 
			 2008-09 3,020,971 4,247,869 355,709 4,603,578 
			 2009-10 3,115,377 4,378,776 370,443 4,749,219 
			 2010-11 3,230,226 4,539,801 362,865 4,902,666 
			 2011-12 3,246,709 4,615,222 346,614 4,961,836 
		
	
	
		
			 England 
			 Number 
			  First attendances seen First attendances missed (did not attend) First appointments Subsequent attendances seen Subsequent attendances missed (did not attend) 
			 2007-08 13,608,843 1,356,831 14,965,674 29,527,041 3,862,041 
			 2008-09 14,953,410 1,430,296 16,383,706 31,808,019 4,090,929 
			 2009-10 16,045,346 1,544,781 17,590,127 33,473,775 4,155,649 
			 2010-11 16,828,630 1,589,611 18,418,241 35,171,162 4,138,620 
			 2011-12 16,891,881 1,539,655 18,431,536 35,949,907 3,911,124 
		
	
	
		
			 Number 
			  Subsequent appointments Total attendances seen Total attendances missed (did not attend) Total appointments 
			 2007-08 33,389,082 43,135,884 5,218,872 48,354,756 
			 2008-09 35,898,948 46,761,429 5,521,225 52,282,654 
			 2009-10 37,629,424 49,519,121 5,700,430 55,219,551 
			 2010-11 39,309,782 51,999,792 5,728,231 57,728,023 
			 2011-12 39,861,031 52,841,788 5,450,779 58,292,567 
			 Note: Out-patient appointments, Consultant led. All specialties, 2007-08 to 2011-12. Source: Department of Health Quarterly Activity Return.

Palliative Care

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to aligning the indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework and Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework to ensure better integration of health and social care at the end of life.

Norman Lamb: Better integration of health and social care at the end of life was highlighted as a priority in the recent Care and Support White Paper. The Government have already committed to including an indicator in the NHS Outcomes Framework on the quality of end of life care, based on the VOICES survey of bereaved carers.
	There are several shared outcomes between the NHS, Adult Social Care and Public Health, and the frameworks were designed to enable this. However, the extent to which outcomes in these frameworks can be aligned is determined by the availability of indicators and data, and the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework does not have a corresponding indicator on end of life care.
	However, work continues to identify future areas for inclusion in the Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework.

DEFENCE

Armed Forces: Career Development

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people in each of the services were promoted to a higher rank in each year since 1995; and what proportion such people formed of the total number of personnel in their service in each year.

Mark Francois: The information sought is not available prior to 2000. The following tables set out the position since 2000.
	
		
			 Trained UK Regular promotions by service in each financial year as a proportion of the trained strength at the start of each year 
			  Naval Service 
			 Financial year Promotions Strength Promotions (percentage) 
			 2000-01 (1)3,580 38,540 9.3 
			 2001-02 3,000 38,020 7.9 
			 2002-03 3,290 36,770 9.0 
			 2003-04 3,400 36,610 9.3 
			 2004-05 3,550 36,420 9.7 
			 2005-06 3,230 35,500 9.1 
			 2006-07 2,580 34,890 7.4 
			 2007-08 3,530 34,260 10.3 
			 2008-09 3,050 34,520 8.8 
			 2009-10 (2)4,010 (2)34,400 (2)11.7 
			 2010-11 (2)3,090 (2)35,170 (2)8.8 
			 2011-12 (2)2,400 (2)35,250 (2)6.8 
		
	
	
		
			  Army 
			 Financial year Promotions Strength Promotions (percentage) 
			 2000-01 n/a 96,470 n/a 
			 2001-02 n/a 96,280 n/a 
			 2002-03 n/a 96,020 n/a 
			 2003-04 n/a 97,640 n/a 
			 2004-05 n/a 99,420 n/a 
			 2005-06 n/a 98,490 n/a 
			 2006-07 n/a 96,790 n/a 
			 2007-08 14,200 95,060 14.9 
			 2008-09 17,270 93,620 18.4 
			 2009-10 (2)15,640 (2)94,870 (2)16.5 
			 2010-11 (2)13,970 (2)97,980 (2)14.3 
			 2011-12 (2)13,220 (2)97,270 (2)13.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Royal Air Force 
			 Financial year Promotions Strength Promotions (percentage) 
			 2000-01 n/a 50,990 n/a 
			 2001-02 n/a 49,850 n/a 
			 2002-03 n/a 48,880 n/a 
			 2003-04 n/a 48,540 n/a 
			 2004-05 n/a 48,740 n/a 
			 2005-06 n/a 48,850 n/a 
			 2006-07 5,370 46,610 11.5 
			 2007-08 5,080 43,170 11.8 
			 2008-09 5,690 40,040 14.2 
			 2009-10 (2)9,020 (2)39,240 (2)23.0 
			 2010-11 (2)8,350 (2)40,110 (2)20.8 
			 2011-12 (2)5,360 (2)40,070 (2)13.4 
			 (1) Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, except for numbers ending in ‘5' which are rounded to the nearest 20 in order to avoid systematic bias. (2) DASA is reviewing its administrative data post April 2009 and until this work is complete, data from 1 May 2009 to 1 October 2011 are provisional and subject to review.

Armed Forces: Career Development

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel in each rank in the (a) Army, (b) Royal Air Force and (c) Royal Navy were promoted to a more senior rank in each year since 2000.

Mark Francois: The information available is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 Trained UK regular promotions by service in each financial year 
			 Financial year (a) Naval Service (b) Army (c) Royal Air Force 
			 2000-01 (1)3,580 (2)— (2)— 
			 2001-02 3,000 (2)— (2)— 
			 2002-03 3,290 (2)— (2)— 
			 2003-04 3,400 (2)— (2)— 
			 2004-05 3,550 (2)— (2)— 
			 2005-06 3,230 (2)— (2)— 
			 2006-07 2,580 (2)— 5,370 
			 2007-08 3,530 14,200 5,080 
			 2008-09 3,050 17,270 5,690 
			 2009-10 (3)4,010 (3)15,640 (3)9,020 
			 2010-11 (3)3,090 (3)13,970 (3)8,350 
			 2011-12 (3)2,400 (3)13,220 (3)5,360 
			 Note: Promotions from other ranks to officers are excluded. (1 )Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, except for numbers ending in ‘5' which are rounded to the nearest 20 in order to avoid systematic bias. (2 )Denotes not available. (3 )DASA is reviewing its administrative data post April 2009 and until this work is complete, data from 1 May 2009 to 1 October 2011 are provisional and subject to review.

Armed Forces: Redundancy

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  whether length of service was a consideration in the selection of individuals for redundancy announcements made in tranches 1 and 2;
	(2)  if length of service was a consideration in the selection of individuals for redundancy announcements made in Tranches 1 and 2 of the Armed Forces Redundancy Programme;
	(3)  whether his Department took length of service into consideration when determining the redundancies to be made in Tranches 1 and 2.

Mark Francois: holding answer 6 September 2012
	No. We have been clear that the length of service was not a consideration in the selection of individuals for redundancy and we have worked hard to ensure that that many more individuals have received an immediate income for which they otherwise would not have qualified. Only 1.2% of individuals who have been selected for redundancy are within one year of qualifying for their immediate pension. These personnel will receive a significantly larger tax free lump sum, which could total over £100,000, and still get all their accrued pension rights at the age of 60 or 65.

Departmental Responsibilities

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many senior responsible owners have been designated within his Department; and to which project each such person is currently assigned.

Mark Francois: holding answer 6 September 2012
	The Permanent Secretary has appointed 16 senior responsible owners, who are responsible to the Defence Board, and who currently lead 18 major business change and military capability programmes, which are as follows:
	Army 2020
	Asset Management Programme (AMP)
	Basing Optimisation Programme (BOP) (formal appointment pending)
	BORONA (formal appointment pending)
	Carrier Enabled Power Projection (CEPP) (formal appointment pending)
	Corporate Services Systems Convergence Programme (CSSCP)
	Corporate Services Transformation Programme (CSTP)
	Defence Core Network Services (DCNS)
	Defence Cyber Security Programme (DCSP) (formal appointment pending)
	Defence Information Infrastructure (DII)
	Defence Infrastructure Transformation Programme (DITP)
	Defence Reform Programme (DRP)
	Future Reserves 2020 (FR20)
	Logistics Commodities Services Transformation (LCST)
	New Employment Model (NEM)
	Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme (SEPP)
	Successor Deterrent Submarine Programme (SDSP)
	The Materiel Strategy (TMS) (formal appointment pending).

HMS Victory

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the ownership status is of monetary items discovered at the site of HMS Victory 1744.

Mark Francois: holding answer 5 September 2012
	The Deed of Gift signed in January 2012 transferred ownership to the Maritime Heritage Foundation of the wreck of HMS Victory 1744 and all that is associated with her in the vicinity of where she is lying, except for personal property not belonging to the Crown.
	An Advisory Group has been established comprising representatives of English Heritage and the National Museum of the Royal Navy and chaired by the MOD; the DCMS has an observer role. The Group provides advice to both the Foundation and the Secretary of State on the extent to which actions proposed by the Foundation are consistent with archaeological principles set out in Annex A to the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage. Any physical activity undertaken on the site will require the prior consent of the Secretary of State, who would of course be advised by the Advisory Group.

Ramil Safarov

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with representatives of NATO on the case of Ramil Safarov.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence has not had any discussion on the case of Mr Safarov with NATO.

Indonesia

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether (a) his Department and (b) the armed forces provided advice or training to Indonesian security and defence forces in the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) continues to provide advice and training to the Indonesian Defence of Security forces in support of Indonesia's security sector reform process. This includes places on MOD courses in the UK, the local provision of defence education, senior officials' level engagement and training on conducting Peace Support Operations and maritime/border security.

Israel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any members of the Israeli armed forces have been attached to HM armed forces in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 10 September 2012
	No members of the Israeli armed forces have been attached to the UK armed forces in the past five years.

Israel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any members of HM armed forces have been attached to the Israeli armed forces in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 10 September 2012
	No members of the armed forces have been attached to the Israeli armed forces in the past five years.

Israel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any members of the Israeli armed forces and security forces have attended training courses in the UK provided by his Department in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 10 September 2012
	Members of the Israeli Defence Force attended UK defence education courses in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

Museums

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the value of the assets and property at each location of the Royal Navy Museums and the Royal Air Force Museums.

Mark Francois: The total net book value for the Royal Navy museums, as at 31 March 2011, is £23.386 million. This is taken from the 2010-11 audited accounts and is broken down by each of the Royal Navy museums in the following table. For the 2011-12 accounts all Royal Navy assets are consolidated under the National Museum of the Royal Navy.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Museum Land and buildings Other assets 
			 Royal Naval Museum 2.352 1.524 
			 Royal Marines Museum 4.387 0.782 
			 Submarine Museum 2.923 1.143 
			 Fleet Air Arm Museum 6,861 3.414 
		
	
	The total net book value of the RAF museum as at 31 March 2011 is £61,614,018. However, it should be noted that although the top level figures are held within the Ministry of Defence, the assets themselves are owned by the RAF Museum. The MOD does not hold the detailed breakdown between the two sites at Hendon and Cosford.
	This information is in the public domain and can be found on:
	www.official-documents.gov.uk

NATO

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assets have been assigned to (a) Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, (b) Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, (c) Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 and (d) Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 in the last seven years; and for how long they were assigned to each such group;
	(2)  what assets have been requested by (a) Standing NATO Maritime Group 1, (b) Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, (c) Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 and (d) Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 2 for future deployment.

Andrew Robathan: The following table shows the frigates or destroyers assigned to the Standing NATO Maritime Groups in the last seven years. Where there are two ships assigned in one year the periods of support is six months per ship.
	
		
			  Standing NATO Mine Group 1 Standing NATO Mine Group 2 
			 2006 Nil HMS Nottingham HMS York 
			 2007 HMS Montrose HMS Northumberland 
			 2008 HMS Somerset HMS Cumberland 
			 2009 HMS St Albans HMS Cornwall 
			 2010 Nil HMS Chatham HMS Montrose 
			 2011 Nil Nil 
			 2012 Nil Nil 
		
	
	In 2011, the ship assigned was re-tasked to the NATO Operation Unified Protector. Since that time no dedicated ship has been assigned to Standing NATO Mine Group 1 or 2. The Royal Navy continues to offer a frigate or destroyer to NATO Immediate Reaction Force activation as required.
	The following table shows the mine counter measures (MCM) vessels and coastal survey vessel assigned to the Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Groups (SNMCMG) in the last seven years. The MCMs have undertaken varying periods of support from four to 12 month deployments.
	
		
			  SNMCMG 1 SNMCMG 2 
			 2006 HMS Hurworth — 
			 2007 HMS Brocklesby — 
			  HMS Middleton — 
			 2008 HMS Roebuck — 
			  HMS Hurworth — 
			  HMS Ledbury — 
			 2009 HMS Brocklesby — 
			  HMS Quorn — 
			 2010 HMS Blyth — 
		
	
	
		
			  HMS Penzance — 
			 2011 HMS Brocklesby HMS Brocklesby 
			  — HMS Bangor 
			 2012 — HMS Ledbury 
			  — HMS Blyth 
		
	
	SNMG MCM Group deployments for the future have been planned with three units of four month deployments allocated per year from 2013 to 2018.

Reserve Forces

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what personal contribution volunteer reservists have been required to make towards travel to their place of duty since April 2011;
	(2)  what changes have been made to travel contributions for volunteer reservists since April 2011.

Mark Francois: holding answer 10 September 2012
	Service personnel, including the volunteer reserve, are in some cases able to claim home-to-duty travel allowance (HDT). This allowance requires a daily personal contribution to the cost of the journeys to work for which they make a claim. In April 2011 the HDT claim could be made for every mile after the first. Since 1 May 2011, the personal contribution to home-to-duty travel allowance distance has been increased from one mile to three miles. The volunteer reserve may claim HDT when travelling from home or their normal civilian place of work to attend training.
	In April 2011 the personal contribution ranged from 18p per day to 50p subject to the mode of transport. From 1 May 2011 the contributions increased to range from 53p to £1.50, still based on transport type.
	There were further planned incremental increases to this qualifying distance taking it to six miles from 1 April 2012 and nine miles in 2013. I am pleased to confirm that these measures are no longer deemed necessary, so the three-mile qualifying distance remains extant.

Submarines

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the fully manned establishment is of the Submarine Service;
	(2)  how many nuclear engineers are available to the Submarine Service; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what recent assessment he has made of manning levels in the Submarine Service; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: holding answer 10 September 2012
	Manpower levels within the Submarine Service are monitored on a monthly basis in order that management action can be taken to match strength to the Naval Service requirement.
	The fully manned establishment of the Royal Navy Submarine Service is 4,053 trained officers and ratings and the Royal Navy currently has 1,490 trained nuclear engineers (including nuclear technicians).

Syria

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many personnel in the Syrian armed forces were trained by the UK armed forces by (a) rank, (b) location of training and (c) duration of training in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  what training his Department provided to Syrian armed forces personnel in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  what the cost was to the public purse of training Syrian armed forces personnel in each of the last 10 years;
	(4)  whether any personnel from the Syrian armed forces being trained in the UK have claimed political asylum;
	(5)  how much money his Department has received from the Syrian government for training its armed forces personnel in each of the last 10 years;
	(6)  what rank and positions were held by Syrian armed forces personnel who have been trained in the UK in the last 10 years (a) at the time of their enrolment for training and (b) now.

Andrew Robathan: holding answers 6 and 7 September 2012
	The Ministry of Defence has a long tradition of providing defence education to international military personnel at its training establishments throughout the United Kingdom. Over the period in question, the UK has provided the following training to five Syrian armed forces personnel:
	2003 to 2004: One Syrian officer cadet completed the commissioning course at The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) at a cost of approximately £40,000.
	2004 to 2005: A Syrian lieutenant colonel attended the advanced command and staff course at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham, and associated language training at a cost of £69,000.
	2005 to 2006: Two Syrian lieutenant colonels attended the diploma in Defence Diplomacy course, which was subsequently renamed as the Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context. The cost of both officers was £10,600.
	2008: One Syrian colonel attended the Managing Defence in a Wider Security Context course, at a cost of £7,300.
	No personnel from the Syrian armed forces being trained in the UK have claimed political asylum while undergoing training in the UK.
	The Ministry of Defence has received no money from the Syrian Government in respect of this training.
	As the British embassy in Damascus was closed on 29 February 2012, there is currently no mechanism for ascertaining either the current ranks or positions of these five individuals.
	In view of the current circumstances in Syria, the UK is not providing any defence education to Syrian armed forces personnel.

Syria

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that any plans to intervene in (a) Syria and (b) other countries with military action involving (i) USAF Lakenheath and (ii) other US bases in the UK will be brought before hon. Members for debate and decision.

Andrew Robathan: The potential use of bases in the United Kingdom by United States forces would be a matter for joint decision by the two Governments in light of the circumstances prevailing at the time.

Ulster Defence Regiment

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of recognition payments were made to part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment; who was eligible for such payments; and whether any other types of recognition payments will be considered.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 10 September 2012
	Part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who transferred over to the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service in 1992 and were in service on 31 August 2006 received an ex-gratia payment which was part of a package intended to recognise the unique circumstances surrounding the disbandment of the home service element of the regiment. The criteria for this payment would not therefore have been applicable to former part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who left prior to that qualifying date.
	Other types of payments, where appropriate, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Yorkshire Regiment

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were recruited into the 2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) at the Middlesbrough Armed Forces Career Office in (a) 2008, (b) 2009, (c) 2010, (d) 2011 and (e) 2012 to date.

Mark Francois: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 755W.
	Information showing how many people were recruited from specific towns and areas is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Deduction Orders

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefit deduction orders were requested by HM Courts and Tribunals Service but not granted by his Department in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: We do not have statistically robust figures relating to the inquiry.

Children: Day Care

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that good quality affordable child care is available for jobseekers.

Steve Webb: Providing help with the cost of and improving access to formal child care continue to be at the forefront of our policies.
	The Government invest around £5 billion each year in early education and child care. Investment in the free early education entitlement is around £2 billion and nearly £2 billion each year goes to help working parents with the cost of child care, mostly through working tax credit. Around £800 million is provided through tax and national insurance relief on child care vouchers, directly contracted child care and workplace nurseries.
	The Government are investing an extra £300 million for child care support under universal credit which will help around 80,000 more families, for the first time supporting parents who work under 16 hours a week.
	While parents are looking for work, they can receive help with child care costs when they attend employment programmes. Additional financial support in the first weeks of starting employment can be available through Childcare Assist and Childcare Subsidy, both part of the Flexible Support Fund.
	On 19 June, the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister announced the Childcare Commission which will look at how to make child care more affordable for parents and reduce unnecessary burdens on employers. The Commission will report in the autumn.

Employment and Support Allowance

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reason employment and support allowance payment to claimants who are in the process of submitting an ESA3 form are terminated until the application has been processed.

Mark Hoban: A limit of 365 days of entitlement to contributory employment and support allowance for claimants other than those in the support group was introduced from 1 May 2012. Any days of entitlement falling before that day are taken into account.
	Those people who have not already been assessed for the income-related element of employment and support allowance are contacted eight weeks before their entitlement to contributory allowance is due to end.
	They are informed of the forthcoming change to their benefit entitlement and asked if they wish to be considered for an income-related allowance. If they do, they are asked to complete form ESA3 which provides us with the necessary information about their financial circumstances to enable their entitlement to be decided before contribution-based employment and support allowance ends.
	If, at the time the claimant has been entitled to a contributory allowance for 365 days, their entitlement to an income-related allowance has not, for whatever reason, been decided, their award of employment and support allowance will necessarily terminate in accordance with the legislation. If it is subsequently decided that the claimant is entitled to the income-related allowance, they will be awarded arrears as appropriate.
	Claimants who are entitled only to income-related Employment and Support Allowance are not affected by the introduction of the time limit.

Employment Schemes: Brigg

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent progress has been made on mandatory work activity and voluntary work experience schemes in Brigg and Goole constituency.

Mark Hoban: For the period May 2011 up to and including February 2012, there have been 40 referrals to MWA and 20 starts on mandatory work activity in Brigg and Goole.
	For the period January 2011 up to and including May 2012, there have been 90 starts to a work experience placement in Brigg and Goole.
	The values have been rounded to the nearest 10.
	For further information on the official statistics, see the following:
	http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/pwp/index.php?page=pwp

Housing Benefit: South East

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Discretionary Housing Payment funding has been allocated to each local authority in the South East in 2012-13.

Mark Hoban: The following table shows the Government contribution towards discretionary housing payments allocated for 2012-13, the amount of unspent Government contribution from 2011-12 that has been permitted to be carried forward into 2012-13, and the overall total expenditure limit for discretionary housing payments for 2012-13 for each local authority in the south east of England.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Local authority Government contribution towards discretionary housing payments 2012-13 Carry over of unspent Government contribution towards discretionary housing payments from 2011-12 Total discretionary housing payments expenditure limit for 2012-13 
			 Adur 35,720 7,672 108,480 
			 Arun 119,866 52,885 431,878 
			 Ashford 63,529 3,615 167,860 
			 Aylesbury Vale 69,674 — 174,185 
			 Basingstoke and Deane 56,422 7,487 159,773 
			 Bracknell Forest 45,263 6,776 130,098 
			 Brighton and Hove 633,236 239,142 2,180,945 
			 Canterbury 87,410 11 218,553 
			 Cherwell 114,239 25,502 349,353 
			 Chichester 152,336 — 380,840 
			 Chiltern 50,241 — 125,603 
			 Crawley 91,558 — 228,895 
			 Dartford 69,217 3,120 180,843 
			 Dover 113,052 5,505 296,393 
			 East Hampshire 32,271 3,746 90,043 
			 Eastbourne 140,437 794 353,078 
			 Eastleigh 42,203 6,510 121,783 
		
	
	
		
			 Elmbridge 163,579 80,499 610,195 
			 Epsom and Ewell 58,866 9,170 170,090 
			 Fareham 33,983 3,448 93,578 
			 Gosport 39,774 — 99,435 
			 Gravesham 81,863 — 204,658 
			 Guildford 82,340 — 205,850 
			 Hart 24,599 8,653 83,130 
			 Hastings 156,525 2,546 397,678 
			 Havant 67,207 — 168,018 
			 Horsham 52,072 12,737 162,023 
			 Isle of Wight 111,808 25,594 343,505 
			 Lewes 83,495 25,257 271,880 
			 Maidstone 126,623 — 316,558 
			 Medway 250,518 21,088 679,015 
			 Mid Sussex 49,948 3,593 133,853 
			 Milton Keynes 219,692 21,017 601,773 
			 Mole Valley 36,070 10,684 116,885 
			 New Forest 93,754 11,389 262,858 
			 Oxford 229,846 — 574,615 
			 Portsmouth 189,015 3,237 480,630 
			 Reading 232,717 13,531 615,620 
			 Reigate and Banstead 46,323 4,060 125,958 
			 Rother 88,300 35,685 309,963 
			 Runnymede 38,380 — 95,950 
			 Rushmoor 51,871 — 129,678 
			 Sevenoaks 56,674 22,823 198,743 
			 Shepway 116,110 13,007 322,793 
			 Slough 222,406 42,994 663,500 
			 South Bucks 34,014 17,094 127,770 
			 South Oxfordshire 51,618 9,528 152,865 
			 Southampton 209,836 52,610 656,115 
			 Spelthorne 58,816 3,951 156,918 
			 Surrey Heath 26,225 — 65,563 
			 Swale 159,404 15,041 436,113 
			 Tandridge 46,304 9,105 138,523 
			 Test Valley 46,565 — 116,413 
			 Thanet 238,850 9,309 620,398 
			 Tonbridge and Mailing 41,969 — 104,923 
			 Tunbridge Wells 52,971 — 132,428 
			 Vale of White Horse 40,523 11,471 129,985 
			 Waverley 65,841 22,372 220,533 
			 Wealden 105,336 4,056 273,480 
			 West Berkshire 116,340 — 290,850 
			 West Oxfordshire 44,209 10,441 136,625 
			 Winchester 38,744 8,870 119,035 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 122,068 — 305,170 
			 Woking 60,979 — 152,448 
			 Wokingham 49,411 9,613 147,560 
			 Worthing 75,108 — 187,770 
			 Wycombe 93,242 33,948 317,975

Housing Benefit: South East

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much Discretionary Housing Payment funding was (a) allocated and (b) spent by each local authority in the South East in 2011-12.

Mark Hoban: The following table shows the Government contribution towards discretionary housing payments made available in 2011-12 and the total expenditure on discretionary housing payments for 2011-12 for each local authority in the south east of England.
	
		
			 £ 
			 Local authority Government contribution towards discretionary housing payments 2011-12 Reported expenditure on discretionary housing payments in 2011-12 
			 Adur 21,421 13,749 
			 Arun 80,180 27,150 
			 Ashford 42,111 38,496 
			 Aylesbury Vale 37,836 47,267 
			 Basingstoke and Deane 42,407 34,920 
			 Bracknell Forest 21,716 14,940 
			 Brighton and Hove 387,835 148,693 
			 Canterbury 48,030 48,019 
			 Cherwell 90,326 64,824 
			 Chichester 129,619 140,206 
			 Chiltern 38,759 15,277 
			 Crawley 52,388 89,971 
			 Dartford 25,507 22,387 
			 Dover 71,209 65,704 
			 East Hampshire 23,066 19,320 
			 Eastbourne 88,847 88,053 
			 Eastleigh 20,028 13,518 
			 Elmbridge 126,926 46,427 
			 Epsom and Ewell 32,780 21,197 
			 Fareham 23,076 19,628 
			 Gosport 18,358 13,866 
			 Gravesham 22,864 25,201 
			 Guildford 43,929 32,981 
			 Hart 13,872 5,219 
			 Hastings 98,509 95,963 
			 Havant 33,584 33,584 
			 Horsham 34,414 21,677 
			 Isle of Wight 65,820 40,226 
			 Lewes 58,716 33,459 
			 Maidstone 109,924 37,345 
			 Medway 109,500 82,912 
			 Mid Sussex 25,054 21,461 
			 Milton Keynes 94,404 73,387 
			 Mole Valley 23,365 12,681 
			 New Forest 57,765 46,376 
			 Oxford 105,520 143,027 
			 Portsmouth 95,125 91,888 
			 Reading 102,237 88,706 
			 Reigate and Banstead 25,106 21,046 
			 Rother 73,222 37,537 
			 Runnymede 20,996 21,865 
			 Rushmoor 15,303 12,757 
			 Sevenoaks 46,746 23,923 
			 Shepway 54,651 38,260 
			 Slough 82,579 39,585 
		
	
	
		
			 South Bucks 27,737 10,643 
			 South Oxfordshire 27,489 16,056 
			 Southampton 100,882 48,272 
			 Spelthorne 25,811 21,860 
			 Surrey Heath 17,589 24,925 
			 Swale 83,537 68,496 
			 Tandridge 29,291 20,186 
			 Test Valley 29,957 32,523 
			 Thanet 75,708 66,399 
			 Tonbridge and Malling 32,834 32,783 
			 Tunbridge Wells 35,904 21,471 
			 Vale of White Horse 24,533 11,315 
			 Waverley 42,011 19,639 
			 Wealden 81,775 77,719 
			 West Berkshire 59,456 72,398 
			 West Oxfordshire 23,385 12,944 
			 Winchester 20,708 11,838 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 75,801 84,635 
			 Woking 33,480 7,426 
			 Wokingham 18,060 8,447 
			 Worthing 38,742 14,779 
			 Wycombe 57,617 20,758

Industrial Health and Safety

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what target was recommended by the Lofstedt Report for reductions in health and safety regulations through sector-specific consolidation; what target he has set for such reductions; and what the evidence base was which informed his decision on the level at which to set the target.

Mark Hoban: Professor Lofstedt in his independent review of health and safety legislation recommended that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) undertake a programme of sector-specific consolidations in order to simplify the regulatory framework, reduce duplication and avoid gold plating. His recommendation was based on submissions from industry in the call for evidence for his review and from the wider public via the Government's Red Tape Challenge. No target for reduction by consolidation was set by the Professor nor have the Government set one.
	HSE is currently consulting with the relevant industry sectors on proposals for consolidation and it is expected this work will have been completed by the end of 2014, reducing burdens on business and leaving Great Britain with a simpler, more effective regulatory framework.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people were prosecuted for illegally claiming jobseeker’s allowance while working in each of the last 10 years.

Mark Hoban: It is not possible to say how many people were prosecuted for failing to declare work or earnings while claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA). However departmental records indicate that the number of people prosecuted for failing to declare any income or circumstance affecting JSA claims were:
	November 2009 to March 2010: 216
	2010-11: 1,264
	2011-12: 1,480.
	The above figures include all offences (not just working while claiming benefit) and could therefore also relate to:
	non-declaration of capital
	non-declaration of a partner in employment
	non-declaration of other income affecting JSA.
	The number of prosecutions arising from fraudulent claims to JSA is not available prior to November 2009 because information by benefit type was not recorded before that date.
	Data source:
	Fraud Referral and Intervention Management System (FRAIMS)

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to answer the letter concerning Ms K Billington sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 23 July 2012.

Mark Hoban: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), replied to the right hon. Member on 6 September 2012.

Social Security Benefits

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse was of benefits received in (a) Gloucester constituency, (b) the south-west and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Mark Hoban: 2011-12 data will be published on 21 September. Benefit expenditure for the last five years published is shown in the following table, where estimates are available:
	
		
			 Total identified benefit expenditure 
			      £ million 
			  2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Cash terms      
			 (a) Gloucester 168 178 190 208 197 
			 (b) South West 9,820 10,483 11,282 12,425 12,902 
			 (c) England 98,156 104,050 111,015 122,070 126,382 
		
	
	
		
			       
			 Real terms (2010-11 prices)      
			 (a) Gloucester 185 191 198 214 197 
			 (b) South West 10,820 11,290 11,796 12,761 12,902 
			 (c) England 108,144 112,056 116,070 125,376 126,382 
			 Notes: 1. “Gloucester” is defined as the parliamentary constituency, not Gloucester city council area. 2. All figures include expenditure for the following benefits: attendance allowance, bereavement benefits, carer's allowance, disability living allowance, employment and support allowance, incapacity benefit, income support, jobseeker's allowance, pension credit, severe disablement allowance, state pension, winter fuel payments. This covers approximately 80% of all DWP benefit expenditure; information on the remaining benefits is not available at constituency level. 3. Figures for the south-west and England also include: council tax benefit, housing benefits, industrial injuries benefits, maternity allowance, statutory maternity pay, and over-75 TV licences. In total, this represents around 99% of all DWP benefit expenditure. 4. Figures rounded to nearest £ million. Source: DWP Statistical and Accounting data, and local authority subsidy returns 
		
	
	This information can be found on the Department for Work and Pensions website at:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/index.php?page=expenditure

Social Security Benefits: Married People

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to provide that spousal benefits paid in respect of a benefit recipient are payable to no more than one wife at any one time; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government have decided that universal credit will not recognise polygamous marriages. As universal credit is to be introduced from 2013 and will replace means tested benefits for working-age people there are no plans to change current rules.
	There are no plans to change pension credit which only provides for polygamous marriages where the marriage was contracted in a country where polygamy was legal when the parties concerned were domiciled there.

Work Capability Assessment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many work capability assessments Atos completed per week in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not available.

Work Capability Assessment: Birkenhead

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide a guarantee that any benefit claimant in Birkenhead asking for their work capability assessment interview with ATOS to be recorded shall be recorded.

Mark Hoban: Benefit claimants in Birkenhead can request their Work Capability Assessment with Atos Healthcare to be audio recorded or can ask to record it themselves and all requests will be accommodated where possible. However, DWP has the right to impose reasonable conditions on recordings, and does not have any legal obligation to provide recording equipment.
	While Atos will do all that they can to accommodate requests for audio recording, there may be times when this service cannot be offered, for example, where it has not been possible to get access to recording equipment on the date/time of the WCA. In these circumstances, claimants will be told in advance that their request cannot be accommodated. Currently, appointments may be deferred for up to four weeks for any circumstance, including the non-availability of recording equipment.

Work Programme

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the average cost to the public purse of a successful Work programme applicant to date.

Mark Hoban: The Department has not yet developed an estimate of the cost to the public purse of a successful Work programme applicant this is because the programme is still in its early days and the Department has not yet made public adequate information required to estimate these costs. Under its obligation under the transparency agenda the Department is making these costs publicly available by 13 November 2012.
	The Department will also consider whether it is feasible to produce the statistics requested within the disproportionate cost limit ahead of their publication under the transparency agenda, and if so, will issue them in an official statistics release in accordance with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage increase was accounted for by the introduction of a cumulative job outcome target when calculating the minimum performance level for the Work programme.

Mark Hoban: The minimum performance level set for Work programme providers in respect of some of their payment groups was calculated as a 10% uplift in the number of job outcomes achieved compared to an estimated of the non-intervention level of performance. The non-intervention level was calculated by the Department based on analysis of historical job entry rates, with deductions made for the estimated impact of previous employment programmes in operation during the period analysed (which did not include the Flexible New Deal).
	Work programme job outcome targets are designed so that providers have an incentive to help people to spend longer in employment than under previous programmes, meaning that performance levels are not directly comparable with those programmes.

Work Programme: Harrogate

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people from Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency have (a) volunteered and (b) been required to take part in the Work programme in the last 12 months.

Mark Hoban: The number of Work programme referrals in the last 12 months for which figures are available (1 June 2011 to 30 April 2012) are shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Referral type 
			 Parliamentary constituency Total Mandatory Voluntary 
			 Harrogate and Knaresborough 520 510 10 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are cumulative and rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Referrals shown are ‘net’ referrals which do not include rejections, cancellations or referrals to ESA information sessions. 3. Geographies are at the time of referral. 4. Customer groups are assigned by Jobcentre Plus, on the basis of a claimant's circumstances, and benefit they receive. A small number of claimants appear in an incorrect group caused by the way information is recorded on the administrative system. 5. Mandatory referrals are classified as referrals to the following customer groups: JSA 18-24, JSA 25+, JSA NEET, JSA claiming 22 of 24 months, JSA ExIB, ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 month Mandatory, ESA (IR) WRAG 3/6 month Mandatory ExIB and JSA Ex-offender Day 1 Mandation. More detailed information can be found at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/wp-pg-chapter-2.pdf Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS)

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Constituencies

Joan Walley: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the costs incurred so far on the parliamentary constituency boundary proposed changes; what estimate he has made of the likely cost of the remaining proceedings connected with the publication of the revised proposals to be published on 16 October 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: We estimated that the cost of the boundary review would be £11.9 million. The four Boundary Commissions have spent around £5.6 million up to the end of July 2012 on the boundary review and related purposes; they expect to spend around £4 million from August 2012 to the end of the review. A significant portion of that sum has already been committed.

Constituencies

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the cost was of the Boundary Commission's consultation hearings in (a) the Liberty Stadium, Swansea and (b) the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.

Chloe Smith: The cost to the Boundary Commission for Wales of the public hearings in (a) the Liberty stadium, Swansea and (b) the Millennium stadium, Cardiff were as follows:
	(a) the Liberty stadium, Swansea: £15,053.13
	(b) the Millennium stadium, Cardiff: £12,354,03.

Work Experience: Social Mobility

Hazel Blears: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the effect of unpaid internships on social mobility.

David Willetts: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Government appointed Alan Milburn as Independent Reviewer on Social Mobility and Child Poverty. In that role he has provided evidence on the range of barriers that restrict social mobility. His progress report on Access to the Professions (published in May 2012) concludes that that unpaid internships can present a barrier to those from less affluent backgrounds progressing and that internships are increasingly important to finding employment.
	Alan Milburn's report welcomed the Government's position that employers should pay interns a wage that reflects the value of their contribution. High quality internships offer many benefits to employers and interns. Government believe that fair access to such opportunities is paramount. We want to make as many high quality internship opportunities as possible available to talented young people from all backgrounds. This means avoiding unfair and restrictive practices and poor quality internships that exploit young people.
	We have updated our guidance on the payment of work experience and interns to ensure that individuals and employers are clear about their rights and responsibilities. We will ensure that enforcement of the minimum wage continues to be effective and that resources are focused on where they will have maximum impact.
	We also endorse the ‘Common Best Practice Code for High Quality Internships’, published by the Gateways to the Professions Collaborative Forum, which we believe will help improve access to the professions for young people from all backgrounds.
	The BIS-sponsored Graduate Talent Pool has provided 49,000 internship opportunities to date. Improved quality assurance processes have ensured that in recent months, unpaid and expenses only vacancies represent between 2% and 5% of vacancies.

CABINET OFFICE

Prisoners: Voting Rights

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he expects to introduce votes for prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: The Government will consider carefully the recent judgment on prisoner voting in the case of Scoppola v. Italy (No. 3) and its implications for the UK and will respond in due course.

Private Sector: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the net change in private sector jobs was in the Humber region from May 2010 to the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated September 2012
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question of what the net change in private sector jobs was in the Humber region from May 2010 to the latest period for which figures are available (120568).
	Private sector employment estimates are produced using official quarterly (March, June, September, December) public sector employment estimates and total employment estimates from the Labour Force Survey. Estimates for interim months are unavailable. The latest available estimates are currently for March 2012.
	Estimates are available for Yorkshire and The Humber combined. Estimates are not available for the Humber region excluding Yorkshire.
	Estimates of private sector employment for Yorkshire and The Humber are:
	
		
			  Headcount (thousands), not seasonally adjusted 
			 June 2010 1,840 
			 March 2012 1,840 
			 Net change 0 
		
	
	Further information is available at
	http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/guide-method/method-quality/quality/quality-information/business-statistics/quality-and-methodology-information-for-public-sector-employment--pse-.pd

JUSTICE

Anti-slavery Day

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to mark Anti-slavery Day on 18 October 2012.

Helen Grant: The Government are committed to marking Anti-Slavery Day. Plans are still being considered and will be announced in due course.

Claims Management Services

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to prevent claims management companies from exploiting claims of mis-selling of personal protection insurance.

Helen Grant: The Department's Claims Management Regulation (CMR) Unit has established a specialist compliance team to tackle bad practices used by some claims management companies dealing with claims for mis-sold payment protection insurance (PP1). Specific steps include a comprehensive programme of audits of companies to bring them to compliance and enforcement action against those which fail to remedy failings.
	The CMR Unit is working with the Financial Ombudsman Service, the British Bankers Association and directly with many of the major lenders to gather the evidence needed to target investigations and inform new specific guidance on standards which claims companies must follow when handling PPI claims. This includes the development of improved information for consumers.

Community Orders: Yorkshire and the Humber

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many community payback schemes have taken place in Brigg and Goole constituency in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: The Community Payback Scheme is currently delivered by 35 probation trusts covering England and Wales. The number of Community Payback work projects undertaken by each probation trust is not recorded by the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). Humberside Probation Trust has been able to provide data for the period from 1 August 2011 to 31 July 2012. During this period a total of 130 offenders with a Brigg or Goole address undertook Community Payback. They worked on 31 work projects and 10,491 hours were worked. A snapshot survey of Community Payback undertaken by NOMS during March 2011 showed that approaching 5,000 individual Community Payback work projects are operated each month across England and Wales.

Coroners

Jo Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what the average length of time taken for the completion of coroner inquests was in (a) 2009, (b) 2010 and (c) 2011;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to reduce the length of time taken for the completion of coroner inquests;
	(3)  what effect he expects the appointment of a chief coroner will have on the time taken to complete coroner inquests.

Helen Grant: The estimated average time taken by coroners to complete inquests in 2009, 2010 and 2011 was 27 weeks. The Ministry of Justice collects statistical information on the length of inquests in aggregate form by asking coroners to state the number of inquests completed within specified time bands. The latest published National Statistics on the work of coroners relates to 2011 and is available on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/coroners-and-burials/deaths
	The Ministry of Justice is preparing to implement a number of measures in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 that will help to reduce the length of time taken to complete coroner investigations. In particular, coroners will be required to notify the Chief Coroner of any investigation that lasts more than 12 months. The Chief Coroner will be required to keep a register of such notifications and to report annually to the Lord Chancellor on the number and length of these investigations, the reasons for delays and the measures taken to prevent delays from becoming unnecessarily lengthy. This will bring about a much greater focus on the length of, and reasons for, delays within the system and put pressure on coroners to keep delays to a minimum.
	The Ministry intends to bring these measures into force as soon as practicable.

Driving Offences

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many individuals were convicted of (a) causing death by careless driving and (b) causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to (i) an unsuspended sentence of imprisonment, (ii) a suspended sentence, (iii) a young offender institution, (iv) a community order, (v) a fine and (vi) another non-custodial sentence in each of the last five years;
	(2)  if he will undertake a comparative analysis of sentences received by individuals convicted of causing the deaths of cyclists and those convicted of causing the deaths of other road users; and if he will make a statement.

Jeremy Wright: The number of persons found guilty at all courts, by sentence breakdown, for causing death by careless driving and by dangerous driving in England and Wales, from 2007 to 2011 can be viewed in the tables.
	Other than where specified in a statute, information held centrally does not include all the circumstances of each case. It is not possible to identify from data held centrally on criminal motoring offences whether the victim was a cyclist.
	
		
			 Persons found guilty at all courts, by sentence breakdown, for causing death by careless driving and by dangerous driving, England and Wales, 2007-11(1, 2) 
			 2007 
			 Offence description Found guilty Total sentenced Immediate custody Of which: YOI Suspended sentences Community sentence Of which: Community order Fine Other sentences(4) 
			 4.6 Causing Death by Careless Driving when under the influence of Drink or Drugs 67 67 65 10 1 — — 1 — 
			 4.4 Causing Death by Dangerous Driving 233 233 214 38 14 1 1 3 1 
		
	
	
		
			 2008 
			 Offence description Found guilty Total sentenced Immediate custody Of which: YOI Suspended sentences Community sentence Of which: Community order Fine Other sentences(4) 
			 4.6 Causing Death by Careless Driving when under the influence of Drink or Drugs 46 46 45 4 1 — — — — 
			 4.8 Causing Death by careless or inconsiderate driving(3) 4 4 — — — — — 4 — 
			 4.4 Causing Death by Dangerous Driving 221 221 206 29 9 2 2 3 1 
		
	
	
		
			 2009 
			 Offence description Found guilty Total sentenced(5) Immediate custody Of which: YOI Suspended sentences Community sentence Of which: Community order Fine Other sentences(4) 
			 4.6 Causing Death by Careless Driving when under the influence of Drink or Drugs 35 35 33 6 2 — — — — 
			           
			 4.8 Causing Death by careless or inconsiderate driving(3) 81 73 3 — 14 49 49 5 2 
			 4.4 Causing Death by Dangerous Driving 225 233 218 46 14 — — — 1 
		
	
	
		
			 2010 
			 Offence description Found guilty Total sentenced(5) Immediate custody Of which: YOI Suspended sentences Community sentence Of which: Community order Fine Other sentences(4) 
			 4.6 Causing Death by Careless Driving when under the influence of Drink or Drugs 41 41 40 6 1 — — — — 
			 4.8 Causing Death by careless or inconsiderate driving(3) 238 236 45 12 56 122 121 6 7 
			 4.4 Causing Death by Dangerous Driving 154 158 140 26 11 4 3 1 2 
		
	
	
		
			 2011 
			 Offence description Found guilty Total sentenced(5) Immediate custody Of which: YOI Suspended sentences Community sentence Of which: Community order Fine Other sentences(4) 
			 4.6 Causing Death by Careless Driving when under the influence of Drink or Drugs 35 35 35 5 — — — — — 
			 4.8 Causing Death by careless or inconsiderate driving(3) 234 231 46 3 60 109 108 11 5 
			 4.4 Causing Death by Dangerous Driving 114 115 110 24 4 1 1 — — 
			 (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Road Traffic Act 1988 added by Road Safety Act 2006, S.2B—Came in to force in August 2008 (4) Includes: Absolute and Conditional Discharge and Otherwise dealt with. (5 )The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular year, and committed for sentence at the Crown court, may be sentenced in the following year. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice

Fines

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many fines levied by HM Courts and Tribunals Service have been paid in full or in part by an unpaid work order since 1 September 2004.

Helen Grant: Although schedule 6 of the Courts Act 2003 sets provisions for the use of unpaid work orders as a sanction for fine defaulters, this sanction is not actually used as a method of fine enforcement. The sanction was initially piloted in some local justice areas but due to difficulties in administering the scheme it was not implemented. It is not possible to identify the number of fines where these orders were imposed without carrying out a manual search of all the fine accounts in the pilot areas which would incur disproportionate costs.

Fraud

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convictions there were for (a) credit card fraud and (b) mortgage fraud in each of the last 10 years.

Damian Green: Information held centrally on the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute. It is not possible to separately identify from this centrally held information those specific offences related to credit card and mortgage fraud from other offences of fraud and theft.
	Proceedings for offences of credit card fraud may be initiated under the Fraud Act 2006. However, credit card fraud may be included as part of a more serious crime such as, for example, money laundering. Mortgage fraud includes offences that involve deceiving a lender about an aspect of a secured property loan in order to obtain that loan and may be initiated under the Fraud Act 2006 or if the proceedings predate January 2007 under section 15 of the Theft Act 1968.
	The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under the Fraud Act 2006 and Theft Act 1968 Section 15 in England and Wales from 2002 to 2011 can be viewed in the tables.
	Charging data are not collated centrally by the Ministry of Justice.
	
		
			 Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under the Fraud Act 2006 and Theft Act 1968 Section 15, England and Wales, 2002 to 2011(1,2) 
			  2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
			 Fraud Act 2006(4) —(5) —(5) —(5) —(5) —(5) —(5) —(5) —(5) —(5) —(5) 
			 Theft Act 1968, Section 15(6) 12,770 9,354 11,497 8,457 9,824 7,519 8,196 6,472 6,311 5,080 
			 Total 12,770 9,354 11,497 8,457 9,824 7,519 8,196 6,472 6,311 5,080 
		
	
	
		
			  2007 2008(3) 2009 2010 2011 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
			 Fraud Act 2006(4) 4,033 3,150 7,074 5,620 10,434 8,133 11,588 9,030 11,156 8,975 
			 Theft Act 1968, Section 15(6) 3,300 2,470 749 678 333 234 284 200 180 114 
			 Total 7,333 5,620 7,823 6,298 10,767 8,367 11,872 9,230 11,336 9,089 
			 (1) The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Excludes data for Cardiff magistrates court for April, July and August 2008. (4) Came into force in January 2007. (5) Not applicable. (6) Includes offences of obtaining, attempting to obtain, and conspiring to obtain, property by deception. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Fraud: Social Security Benefits

Andrew Percy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many non-UK nationals from each country have been successfully prosecuted for benefit fraud in each of the last five years.

Damian Green: The Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales. These centrally held court proceedings data do not includes a defendant's nationality.

Human Trafficking

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted in relation to people trafficking in the last two years.

Damian Green: The number of defendants found guilty at all courts, on a principal-offence basis, for human trafficking offences, in England and Wales in 2010 and 2011 can be viewed in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of defendants found guilty at all courts for human trafficking offences(1), England and Wales, 2010 and 2011(2, 3) 
			  Number of defendants 
			 2010 16 
			 2011 8 
			 (1 )Includes offences under: Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants etc) Act 2004: Sexual offences Act 2003. (2 )The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. 
			 (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services—Ministry of Justice.

Juries: Illegal Immigrants

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to ensure those selected for jury service are not in the UK illegally.

Helen Grant: Jurors are randomly selected from electoral registers compiled by local government.
	The Crown court carries out checks on all jurors on their first day of service at the court to ensure that the person attending is the person that was summonsed. For European Economic Area Nationals a full EEA passport or National Identity Card needs to be produced. For other nationals a full passport or a Home Office document confirming the individual's UK immigration status must be produced.

Mesothelioma: Compensation

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the timescale is for the introduction of the procedure to compensate mesothelioma sufferers set out in the publication of the detailed support scheme on 25 July 2012.

Mark Hoban: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.
	We propose to bring forward legislation enabling a payment scheme to be established for people diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma as a result of their negligent exposure to asbestos at work, and who are unable to trace their liable employer or insurer to claim against, as soon as parliamentary time allows.
	In recognition of the time taken to introduce new legislation, we intend that eligible claimants diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma on or after 25 July 2012 should be able to claim once the scheme becomes operational.

Olympic Games 2012: Touting

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people were convicted for illegally reselling tickets for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in each month of 2012; and what the average fine levied was for such convictions;
	(2)  how many applications for convictions have been made for people suspected of illegally reselling tickets for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games outside the UK;
	(3)  how many people have been convicted of illegally reselling tickets for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games outside the UK;
	(4)  how many convictions for illegally reselling tickets for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were subjected to an application for further fines under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002; and what the (a) average and (b) total amount collected was.

Damian Green: On 28 August 2012 the Ministry of Justice published “Provisional management information on Olympic related criminal proceedings”.
	This publication provides provisional management information for all Olympic related criminal proceedings currently going through criminal courts and the number of proceedings which have been fast tracked. The report is available on the ministry's website at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/statistics/ad-hoc/provisional-olympic-stats.pdf.
	To enable timely reporting of information on offences related to the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics a limited amount of data have been collated.
	It is therefore not possible to provide the additional information requested.
	Regarding the information requested concerning the illegal resale of tickets for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games outside the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Justice holds statistical data relating to those prosecuted in courts in England and Wales, however information is not collated centrally on the particulars of an offence other than where specified in statute. This information could be obtained only by manually inspecting each court file for the particulars of the case at disproportionate cost.
	Therefore, we are unable to provide this information.

Perjury

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been convicted for providing false information under section 20 of the Juries Act 1974 in the last five years.

Damian Green: Persons proceeded against and convicted for offences under the Juries Act 1974 cannot be separately identified on the Ministry of Justice Court Proceedings Database as they form part of a miscellaneous group which cannot be separately analysed.

Prison Accommodation

James Wharton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what change there has been in the number of (a) vacant and (b) occupied prison places since May 2010;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the likely change in the total number of prison places by May 2015;
	(3)  how many (a) complete prisons and (b) prisons under construction there were (i) in May 2010 and (ii) on 31 August 2012; and how many prisons in each such category he estimates there will be in May 2015.

Jeremy Wright: Information on the number of vacant and occupied prison places is set out in the following table. This information is published on the MOJ website via the following weblink.
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/prison-population-figures/index.htm
	
		
			  Published useable operational capacity Published occupied prison places (total prison population) Vacant places (useable operational capacity less total prison population) 
			 28 May 2010 87.757 85.147 2.610 
			 31 August 2012 90.897 86.708 4.189 
			 Difference +3.140 +1.561 +1.579 
			 Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems, which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible error with data entry and processing. 
		
	
	In May 2010 the Prison Estate was a total of 136 prisons including NOMS Operated Immigration Removal Centres. Two further prisons (HMP Oakwood and HMP Thameside were under construction. In August 2012 the Prison Estate was 134 prisons including NOMS Operated Immigration Removal Centres. There were no additional prisons under construction.
	Decisions on the future size and configuration of the prison estate will relied the current and projected prison population, including an assessment of the necessary margin to manage population fluctuations.

Prisoners

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice (a) how many mobile telephones and (b) what quantity of drugs were seized from prisoners in each prison in each of the last two years.

Jeremy Wright: The following table shows the number of finds of mobile phones or SIM cards found on prisoners and young offenders in each prison in each of the last two years. One find could constitute a phone only, a SIM card only, or a mobile phone with one SIM card or a media stick/memory card.
	
		
			 Prison Number of finds 
			 September 2010 to August 2011  
			 Acklington 29 
			 Albany 2 
			 Altcourse 265 
			 Ashwell 2 
			 Aylesbury 103 
			 Bedford 30 
			 Belmarsh S 
			 Birmingham 91 
			 Blantyre House 1 
			 Blundeston 7 
			 Brinsford 6 
			 Bristol 22 
			 Brixton 57 
			 Bronzefield 8 
			 Buckley Hall 15 
			 Bullingdon 19 
			 Bullwood Hall 3 
			 Camp Hill 81 
			 Canterbury 11 
			 Cardiff 14 
			 Castington 4 
			 Channings Wood 65 
			 Chelmsford 21 
			 Coldingley 44 
			 Cookham Wood 2 
			 Dartmoor 14 
			 Deerbolt 6 
			 Doncaster 5 
			 Dorchester 15 
			 Dovegate 9 
			 Dover 25 
			 Downview 2 
			 Drake Hall 1 
			 Durham 7 
			 East Sutton Park 6 
			 Eastwood Park 3 
			 Edmunds Hill 19 
			 Elmley 46 
			 Erlestoke 75 
			 Everthorpe 32 
			 Exeter 23 
			 Featherstone 33 
			 Feltham 63 
			 Ford 31 
			 Forest Bank 45 
			 Frankland 5 
			 Full Sutton 3 
			 Garth 30 
			 Gartree 4 
			 Glen Parva 2 
			 Gloucester 2 
			 Grendon and Spring Hill 2 
			 Guys Marsh 90 
			 Haverigg 43 
		
	
	
		
			 Hewell 65 
			 High Down 60 
			 Highpoint 20 
			 Hindley 2 
			 Hollesley Bay 40 
			 Holloway 8 
			 Holme House 17 
			 Hull 11 
			 Huntercombe 26 
			 Isis 20 
			 Kennet 5 
			 Kirkham 68 
			 Kirklevington Grange 2 
			 Lancaster Castle 5 
			 Lancaster Farms 65 
			 Latchmere House 10 
			 Leeds 53 
			 Leicester 26 
			 Lewes 29 
			 Leyhill 23 
			 Lincoln 22 
			 Lindholme 72 
			 Littlehey 28 
			 Liverpool 127 
			 Long Lartin 3 
			 Low Newton 1 
			 Lowdham Grange 19 
			 Maidstone 20 
			 Manchester 41 
			 Moorland 7 
			 Moorlands 21 
			 Morton Hall 1 
			 Mount 89 
			 North Sea Camp 22 
			 Northallerton 2 
			 Norwich 8 
			 Nottingham 22 
			 Onley 74 
			 Parc 29 
			 Parkhurst 4 
			 Pentonville 231 
			 Peterborough 96 
			 Portland 4 
			 Preston 10 
			 Ranby 79 
			 Reading 5 
			 Risley 43 
			 Rochester 2 
			 Rye Hill 47 
			 Send 1 
			 Shepton Mallet 6 
			 Springhill 1 
			 Stafford 49 
			 Standford Hill 47 
			 Stocken 10 
			 Styal 6 
			 Sudbury 31 
			 Swaleside 56 
			 Swinfen Hall 44 
			 Thorn Cross 46 
			 Usk 1 
			 Verne 57 
		
	
	
		
			 Wandsworth 119 
			 Warren Hill 4 
			 Wayland 34 
			 Wealstun 76 
			 Wellingborough 131 
			 Werrington House 4 
			 Wetherby 2 
			 Whitemoor 8 
			 Winchester 21 
			 Wolds 120 
			 Woodhill 3 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 100 
			 Wymott 22 
			   
			 September 2011 to August 2012  
			 Acklington 11 
			 Albany 1 
			 Altcourse 181 
			 Ashfield 2 
			 Ashwell  
			 Askham Grange t 
			 Aylesbury 15 
			 Bedford 26 
			 Belmarsh 4 
			 Birmingham 116 
			 Blantyre House 4 
			 Blundeston 7 
			 Brinsford 50 
			 Bristol 8 
			 Brixton 2i 
			 Bronzefield 3 
			 Buckley Hall 32 
			 Bullingdon 5 
			 Bullwood Hall 5 
			 Camp Hill 29 
			 Canterbury 8 
			 Cardiff 13 
			 Castington 3 
			 Channings Wood 15 
			 Chelmsford 15 
			 Coldingley 26 
			 Cookham Wood 1 
			 Dartmoor 5 
			 Deerbolt 7 
			 Doncaster 6 
			 Dorchester 12 
			 Dovegate 21 
			 Dover 9 
			 Drake Hall 1 
			 Durham 52 
			 East Sutton Park 2 
			 Eastwood Park 2 
			 Elmley 28 
			 Erlestoke 117 
			 Everthorpe 22 
			 Exeter 5 
			 Featherstone 51 
			 Feltham 37 
			 Ford 34 
			 Forest Bank 40 
			 Frankland 4 
		
	
	
		
			 Full Sutton 8 
			 Garth 10 
			 Gartree 15 
			 Glen Parva S 
			 Gloucester 3 
			 Guys Marsh 116 
			 Hatfield 5 
			 Haverigg 52 
			 Hewell 205 
			 High Down 36 
			 Highpoint 94 
			 Hindley 2 
			 Hollesley Bay 14 
			 Holloway 6 
			 Holme House 9 
			 Hull 9 
			 Huntercombe 9 
			 Isis 43 
			 Kennet 8 
			 Kirkham 68 
			 Kirklevington Grange 15 
			 Lancaster Farms 19 
			 Leeds 28 
			 Leicester 9 
			 Lewes 17 
			 Leyhill 7 
			 Lincoln 8 
			 Lindholme 71 
			 Littlehey 14 
			 Liverpool 67 
			 Long Lartin 2 
			 Low Newton 2 
			 Lowdham Grange 13 
			 Maidstone 31 
			 Manchester 14 
			 Moorland 10 
			 Moorlands 6 
			 Morton Hall 7 
			 Mount 87 
			 North Sea Camp 34 
			 Northallerton 2 
			 Northumberland 100 
			 Norwich 4 
			 Nottingham 17 
			 Onley 19 
			 Parc 34 
			 Parkhurst 6 
			 Pentonville 95 
			 Peterborough 49 
			 Portland 3 
			 Prescoed 1 
			 Preston 13 
			 Ranby 67 
			 Reading 16 
			 Risley 8 
			 Rochester 5 
			 Rye Hill 56 
			 Send 1 
			 Springhill 5 
			 Stafford 17 
			 Standford Hill 26 
			 Stocken 19 
		
	
	
		
			 Stoke Heath 27 
			 Styal 7 
			 Sudbury 47 
			 Swaleside 55 
			 Swinfen Hall 17 
			 Thameside I 
			 Thorn Cross 44 
			 Verne 93 
			 Wakefield 2 
			 Wandsworth 104 
			 Warren Hill 2 
			 Wayland 12 
			 Wealstun 88 
			 Wellingborough 60 
			 Werrington House 3 
			 Wetherby 2 
			 Whitemoor 3 
			 Winchester 3 
			 Wolds 38 
			 Woodhill 11 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 73 
			 Wymott 16 
		
	
	The following table shows the total number of drug and drug taking paraphernalia seizures made in each prison in each of the past two years. It includes seizures from prisoners and from other persons, and seizures which are not attributable to a person. This is because the number of drug seizures in prisons is recorded on a central database which does not record from whom the seizure was made or if the seizure was not attributable to a person. To establish which of the seizures were from prisoners would involve an investigation into each seizure which would incur disproportionate cost.
	It is important to note that many drugs are similar in appearance and in many cases finds of drugs are not categorically identified by scientific analysis. Some will have been identified using indicative reagent or Marquis tests. Many will have been identified by appearance only.
	
		
			 Establishment September 2010 to August 2011 September 2011 to August 2012 
			 Acklington 47 19 
			 Albany 0 0 
			 Altcourse 301 213 
			 Ashfield 1 2 
			 Ashwell 1 0 
			 Askham Grange 0 0 
			 Aylesbury 15 6 
			 Bedford 15 10 
			 Belmarsh 12 10 
			 Birmingham 2 25 
			 Blantyre House 0 1 
			 Blundeston 0 0 
			 Brinsford 4 26 
			 Bristol 30 29 
			 Brixton 36 15 
			 Bronzefield 37 31 
			 Buckley Hall 57 136 
			 Bullingdon 48 34 
			 Bullwood Hall 0 2 
		
	
	
		
			 Bure 2 0 
			 Camp Hill 10 20 
			 Canterbury 2 6 
			 Cardiff 37 33 
			 Castington 26 60 
			 Channings Wood 32 31 
			 Chelmsford 30 57 
			 Coldingley 5 4 
			 Cookham Wood 0 0 
			 Dartmoor 11 8 
			 Deerbolt 22 24 
			 Doncaster 41 128 
			 Dorchester 22 35 
			 Dovegate 116 171 
			 Dover Immigration 26 20 
			 Downview 3 1 
			 Drake Hall 7 6 
			 Durham 76 123 
			 East Sutton Park 0 0 
			 Eastwood Park 0 2 
			 Edmunds Hill 12 0 
			 Elmley 62 70 
			 Erlestoke 34 66 
			 Everthorpe 43 32 
			 Exeter 76 64 
			 Featherstone 26 65 
			 Feltham 9 18 
			 Ford 144 165 
			 Forest Bank 228 230 
			 Foston Hall 0 2 
			 Frankland 13 13 
			 Full Sutton 9 9 
			 Garth 46 68 
			 Gartree 3 11 
			 Glen Parva 13 17 
			 Gloucester 15 14 
			 Grendon 0 0 
			 Guys Marsh 35 39 
			 Haslar Immigration 1 2 
			 Hatfield 2 0 
			 Haverigg 47 73 
			 Highdown 13 4 
			 Highpoint 43 98 
			 Hindley 8 4 
			 Hewell 89 139 
			 Hollesley Bay 0 1 
			 Holloway 5 4 
			 Holme House 79 77 
			 Hull 3 11 
			 Huntercombe I I 
			 Isis 3 11 
			 Kennet 10 16 
			 Kingston 0 0 
			 Kirkham 169 179 
			 Kirklevington Grange 31 71 
			 Lancaster Castle 3 0 
			 Lancaster Farms 6 2 
			 Latchmere House 3 0 
			 Leeds 26 51 
			 Leicester 73 33 
		
	
	
		
			 Lewes 27 39 
			 Leyhill 66 41 
			 Lincoln 34 22 
			 Lindholme 40 33 
			 Littlehey 0 1 
			 Liverpool 13 10 
			 Long Lartin 2 2 
			 Lowdham Grange 68 109 
			 Low Newton 61 62 
			 Maidstone 2 2 
			 Manchester 95 $5 
			 Moorland Closed 16 15 
			 Morton Hall Immigration 4 30 
			 New Hall 2 5 
			 Northallerton 6 10 
			 North Sea Camp 91 36 
			 Northumberland 0 68 
			 Norwich 1 20 
			 Nottingham 68 83 
			 Oakwood 0 3 
			 Onley 72 67 
			 Parc 53 72 
			 Parkhurst 1 2 
			 Pentonville 97 66 
			 Peterborough Female 9 31 
			 Peterborough 55 47 
			 Portland 14 5 
			 Prescoed 0 1 
			 Preston 79 94 
			 Ranby 11 16 
			 Reading 1 0 
			 Risley 42 44 
			 Rochester 5 1 
			 Rye Hill 44 49 
			 Send 0 0 
			 Shepton Mallett 4 1 
			 Shrewsbury 1 0 
			 Spring Hill 3 0 
			 Stafford 38 49 
			 Standford Hill 65 44 
			 Stocken 28 6 
			 Stoke Heath 4 16 
			 Styal 2 5 
			 Sudbury 199 235 
			 Swaleside 83 32 
			 Swansea 0 2 
			 Swinfen Hall 8 7 
			 Thameside 0 7 
			 The Mount 69 56 
			 The Verne 19 28 
			 Thorn Cross 6 2 
			 Usk 0 0 
			 Wakefield 1 0 
			 Wandsworth 8 7 
			 Warren Hill 5 I 
			 Wayland 15 12 
			 Wealstun 4 4 
			 Wellingborough 9 7 
			 Werrington 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Wetherby 33 10 
			 Whatton 0 0 
			 Whitemoor 1 2 
			 Winchester 1 2 
			 Wolds 72 51 
			 Woodhill 1 0 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 52 32 
			 Wymott 12 13 
		
	
	All figures in this answer have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.

Prisoners' Discharge Grants

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the maximum number of times is that a person eligible to receive a discharge grant from prison has received such a grant in each of the last two years.

Jeremy Wright: National Offender Management Service policy guidance for the payment to prisoners of discharge grants can be found at annex B of “Prison Service Instruction 72/2011—Discharge”, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library. This states that all eligible prisoners aged 18 or over who have served more than 14 days in custody after receiving a custodial sentence must on release be given a discharge grant of £46 unless certain exclusions apply.
	These exclusions include those sentenced prisoners who have served 14 days or less in custody since the date of sentence, those awaiting deportation or removal from the United Kingdom and those recalled from licence to prison for a period of 14 days or less. It is not possible to produce a breakdown of the prisoners who have received such a grant in each of the last two years or how many times each prisoner has received a discharge grant as this information is not recorded centrally.

Prisons: Television

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the number of prisoners who have access to Sky TV in their prison cells.

Jeremy Wright: “Sky TV” where this refers to a service received from British Sky Broadcasting in return for a subscription is not available in-cell in public sector prisons.
	As part of the recent digital switchover each eligible prisoner, located in a public sector prison, has access to nine free-to-view channels in-cell. These are BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky News Sport (E4 in female prisons), ITV3, VIVA and Film 4. Governors have discretion to change any of these channels to other free-to-view channels locally, but will be responsible for any costs incurred and only free-to-view channels may be provided. It is the governor's responsibility to ensure that any channel chosen is suitable for viewing with regard to the population of their prison.
	Prisoners' access to in-cell television is dependent on their status under the Prison Service's Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme (Prison Service Instruction 11/2011 refers, a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library). Information relating to the number of prisoners who have access to specific television channels is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Information about the number of prisoners held in contracted-out prisons who may have access to Sky television in their cells is not immediately available. I will write to my hon. Friend with this information as soon as it is available, and will place a copy in the House Library.

Sexual Harassment: Employment Tribunals Service

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many employment tribunals involving allegations of harassment at work of a sexual nature were (a) heard and (b) upheld in each of the last five years.

Helen Grant: Information on the number of employment tribunal complaints involving allegations of sexual harassment is not held centrally. It could be collated only by trawling individual tribunal files manually. Accordingly, it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	However, all complaints of sexual harassment would be categorised by HM Courts and Tribunals Service as falling within the wider sex discrimination jurisdiction. Sexual harassment complaints are therefore a sub-set of sex discrimination complaints, as recorded in the statistics published annually and quarterly by the Ministry of Justice.
	The following table shows the number of sex discrimination complaints disposed of at a hearing in each of the last five complete financial years. The data are broken down, showing the volume of complaints successful at final hearing, unsuccessful at final hearing, and dismissed at a preliminary hearing, and the overall total, as well as the percentage of ‘successful’ complaints relative to the overall number of sex discrimination complaints disposed of at a hearing.
	
		
			 Complaints of sex discrimination disposed of at hearing by employment tribunals in each of the last five financial years 
			  2007-08 2008-09 2009-010 2010-011 2011-012 
			 Successful at final hearing 470 340 340 290 290 
			 Unsuccessful at final hearing 640 600 560 590 590 
			 Dismissed at preliminary hearing 200 210 180 200 190 
			 Total heard 1,310 1,150 1,080 1,080 1,070 
			 Percentage of total as successful (%) 35.88 29.57 31.48 26.85 27.10 
			 Source: Annual employment tribunal statistics. Employment tribunal disposals achieved otherwise than at a hearing are excluded. See published statistical releases for further information: http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/tribunals

Sexual Offences: Lie Detectors

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the accuracy of the lie detector test used on sex offenders.

Jeremy Wright: The polygraph, which is often described as a “lie detector”, measures arousal associated with physiological changes of the autonomic nervous system. It is not a detector of lies as such but measures physiological arousal hypothesised to be the product of deception (ie respiration, cardiovascular and sweat responses).
	Although current evidence suggests that a polygraph test cannot be relied upon to achieve 100% accuracy, the National Research Council (NRC) review(1) concluded that, in the absence of countermeasures (attempts to interfere with the polygraph test), there was evidence that, for assessing specific historical incidents, the polygraph can obtain levels of accuracy which are well above chance (typically 80-90%).
	In accordance with the provisions of sections 28 and 29 of the Offender Management Act 2007 (the 2007 Act), the National Offender Management Service conducted a pilot of mandatory polygraph testing for sexual offenders released on licence into the East and West Midlands regions from 19 January 2009 to 31 March 2012. Results from polygraph testing were used in conjunction with other information to make decisions about managing those sexual offenders.
	An independent evaluation of the pilots published on 20 July 2012 concluded that polygraph testing increased the chances that a sexual offender under supervision in the community will reveal information relevant to their management, supervision, treatment, or risk assessment. It also increased the likelihood of preventative actions being taken by Offender Managers to protect the public from harm.
	The report is available via the link:
	www.justice.gov.uk/publications/research-and-analysis/moj/index.htm
	Under the 2007 Act, an affirmative resolution from each House of Parliament is required before mandatory polygraph testing may become compulsory for sexual offenders outside the terms permitted under the pilot.
	(1) National Research Council (2003). “The polygraph and lie detection”. Committee to Review the Scientific Evidence on the Polygraph. Washington. DC: The National Academic Press.

Translation Services

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many interpreters employed by Associated Language Solutions have security clearance and police counter-terrorist checks in place.

Jeremy Wright: Interpreters working in HM Courts and Tribunals must be vetted to the minimum requirement of an Enhanced Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) check. In the course of a recent National Audit Office investigation, it became clear that some interpreters on the ALS register had not confirmed their CRB record status.
	The Department requires a full audit trail for security checks for all interpreters; therefore, those interpreters who had not supplied documentation were removed from the register until such time as an audit trail could be provided. Interpreters with Enhanced CRB checks in place were asked to provide further evidence of this; those without Enhanced CRB status submitted evidence to gain it. We will continue to scrutinise this closely to ensure contractual obligations are met.

Translation Services

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the contract between his Department and Applied Language Solutions specifies the number of interpreters that should have a Diploma in Public Service Interpreting Law or the Metropolitan Police Test.

Helen Grant: The Framework Agreement sets out a number of acceptable qualifications, including the Diploma in Public Service Interpreting (English Law) and the Metropolitan Police Test. The Framework Agreement does not specify the number of interpreters that should have the Diploma or the Metropolitan Police Test. Provided an interpreter is able to prove they possess the requisite qualifications and vetting, they are able to accept assignments under the Framework.

Unpaid Fines

John Glen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 17 July 2012, Official Report, column 543W, on unpaid fines, how many financial penalties are outstanding; and how many of those are (a) being paid by deduction from benefits, (b) being paid by attachment of earnings and (c) designated as hard to trace in the latest period for which figures are available.

Helen Grant: There were approximately 1,680,000 fines outstanding at the end of March 2012, the latest period for which data are available. Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service do not collect centrally the number being paid by deduction from benefits, being paid by attachment of earnings or designated as hard to trace. We could only obtain this information by manually inspecting each account which would incur disproportionate costs.
	The Government take the issue of fine enforcement very seriously and HMCTS are working to ensure that clamping down on fine defaulters is a continued priority nationwide.

Victim Support: North Yorkshire

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding was provided to Victim Support in North Yorkshire in each of the last three years.

Helen Grant: Victim Support, the national charity for victims and witnesses of crime, is principally funded through a central grant from the Ministry of Justice. It is independent of Government and is responsible for the allocation of funding to its regional services.
	The following table shows total grant funding provided by the Ministry of Justice to Victim Support in each of the last three years, and the amount subsequently allocated by Victim Support to its services in North Yorkshire.
	
		
			  Total MOJ core grant (£ million) Funding allocated to Victim Support services in North Yorkshire (£) 
			 2009-10 37 411,281 
			 2010-11 45 364,193 
			 2011-12 38 265,024 
		
	
	The figures represent the direct costs of services provided in North Yorkshire. We understand from Victim Support that the drop in funding to North Yorkshire is due to support services now being provided centrally and the Victim Care Unit now operating as a regional service based in West Yorkshire.

TREASURY

Youth Unemployment

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on fiscal measures to reduce long-term youth unemployment.

Michael McCann: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on fiscal measures to reduce long-term youth unemployment.

Kate Green: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on fiscal measures to reduce long-term youth unemployment.

Sajid Javid: The Youth Contract was launched in April to help support half a million young people into employment. The Government remain committed to implementation of this programme, and in July this year amended eligibility criteria for wage incentives to allow earlier access to subsidies for young people in 20 local authority areas with high youth unemployment levels.
	In addition, the Work programme has been under way since June, delivering personalised support to long-term and vulnerable jobseekers. So far, around 180,000 young people have been supported through this programme.

European Investment Bank

Mark Reckless: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contributions the UK (a) has made in the last year and (b) will make in the next year to the European Investment Bank.

Greg Clark: The UK has made no contributions to the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the past 12 months.
	Following the European Council held on 28-29 June, the paid-in capital of the EIB is set to be increased by €10 billion. In line with its 16% shareholding, the UK will contribute €1.6 billion.

Infrastructure

Graham Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect that investment in infrastructure will have on the economy.

Danny Alexander: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr Jackson) today.

Infrastructure

Glyn Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent steps he has taken to support nationally important infrastructure projects.

Danny Alexander: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Jason McCartney) today.

Infrastructure

Paul Flynn: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department has made on implementation of the national infrastructure plan 2011.

Danny Alexander: The Government are ensuring that the infrastructure identified in the National Infrastructure Plan 2011 is delivered efficiently and on time. I chair a Cabinet Sub-Committee on infrastructure to provide leadership to this work. The Government have also launched innovative schemes, such as UK Guarantees, to kick-start struggling infrastructure projects.
	An update on the progress of the priority infrastructure investments was published alongside this year's Budget and the Treasury will be publishing a further progress update around the time of the autumn statement.

Household Expenditure

Gavin Barwell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to help households with their cost of living.

Danny Alexander: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Gillingham and Rainham (Rehman Chishti), earlier today.

Beer Duty

Peter Aldous: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the relative effect of progressive beer duty relief on breweries seeking to maximise export opportunities.

Sajid Javid: Small Breweries Relief provides a tax relief worth £30 million to over 700 of the UK's smallest brewers. The relief helps to encourage investment in small breweries, promoting growth and increasing diversity in the beer market.
	The Government have made no assessment of the effect that Small Breweries Relief may have on export opportunities for small brewers. However, the Treasury keeps all taxes under review and is open to receiving any evidence of the impact of the relief in this area.

Cost of Credit

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government have taken to reduce the cost of credit to the real economy.

Greg Clark: The Government and the Bank of England have launched the Funding for Lending Scheme (FLS) to reduce funding costs for banks so that they can make loans cheaper and more easily available for households and non-financial businesses in the UK. In addition, 19,000 cheaper bank loans worth £2.6 billion have been offered to smaller businesses under the National Loan Guarantee Scheme, since its launch on 20 March this year.

Churchill Insurance

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Direct Line Group about the effect of the proposed closure of the Churchill call centre in Thornaby-on-Tees on the Tees Valley sub-regional economy.

Sajid Javid: The Government's shareholding in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is managed on a commercial and arm's-length basis by UK Financial Investments Ltd (UKFI), a company which is wholly owned by the Government.
	UKFI's overarching objective is to protect and create value for the taxpayer as shareholder, with due regard to financial stability and acting in a way that promotes competition.
	As an engaged shareholder, UKFI works closely with the bank's management to assure themselves of the bank's approach to strategy and to hold management rigorously to account for performance.
	However, UKFI's role is to manage the investment, not to manage the bank. The bank retains its own independent board and management team to manage itself commercially without interference from shareholders. The Government are therefore unable to comment on these matters.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the classification of financial services compensation scheme funding; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. It is not the Government's practice to provide detail of such discussions.

Financial Services: Advisory Services

Annette Brooke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the burden of regulatory cost for Independent Financial Advisers operating as a one-person business; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: Treasury Ministers receive representations from a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations. Financial Services Regulation is a matter for the Financial Services Authority, an independent non-governmental body.

Succession: EU Action

Katy Clark: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the Government's policy is on the creation of a European Certificate of Succession.

Jeremy Wright: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	The European Certificate of Succession is part of the recently adopted European Community Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of decisions and authentic instruments in matters of succession. This regulation was adopted in July 2012.
	The UK is not party to this regulation, a right which it exercised under the UK's Protocol to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. As a result, the UK will not be bound by the regulation when it comes into operation, nor does the UK have any intention of being bound by it.
	The Government have no current plans to change the law in this area.

VAT: Energy

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the cost to (a) business and (b) household consumers of the levying of VAT on (i) gas and (ii) electricity bills.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made of the amount of receipts from levying VAT on (i) gas and (ii) electricity consumed by (a) businesses and (b) households.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Birmingham

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses in (a) Birmingham, Ladywood constituency and (b) Birmingham participated in the business mentor scheme in the latest period for which figures are available.

Michael Fallon: Over 13,000 volunteers have now been recruited through the Get Mentoring scheme, which is led by SFEDI (Small Firms Enterprise Development Initiative). More than 9,000 of these volunteers have already completed training—around 10% of whom are based in the west midlands. This estimate is only approximate and based on the location of the workshop they attended so does not include those who have completed their training via online or distance learning. We do not currently have data on how many were recruited from Birmingham or Ladywood constituency specifically.

Community Interest Companies

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many community interest companies there were in each (a) local authority area and (b) Parliamentary constituency in each year since 2006.

Jo Swinson: Companies House cannot provide a breakdown of community interest companies (CICs) by local authority area or parliamentary constituency, as their records are split into area postal codes, and to do so would be at disproportionate cost. Spreadsheets showing the number of CICs registered to each area postal code in each year since 2006 will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Consumers: Loans

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the proportion of bill-of-sale lenders who have signed up to abide by his Department's voluntary code of practice; and if his Department will reconsider the option of introducing a mandatory code.

Jo Swinson: The Government understand the concerns around the use of bills of sale in consumer lending. The Government consulted on whether to ban the use of these types of loans but following a careful consideration of all the evidence, concluded that rather than banning these loans, a package of measures based on an industry Code of Practice was the best way to proceed in this market.
	The Consumer Credit Trade Association, the trade association representing the vast majority of logbook loan companies, is responsible for the code. It recently estimated that around 80% of the industry has signed up to the code.
	As well as increasing existing consumer protections, the Code is designed to give greater protection to any unsuspecting buyer of a second-hand car.
	The Government have no plans to introduce a mandatory code at this time.

Consumers: Protection

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will review consumer protection rules for the purpose of providing further protection for consumers paying tradespeople in cash.

Jo Swinson: Consumers are already protected in law against faulty or substandard goods and services when they pay tradesmen for goods or services whether in cash or by other means. Depending on whether the consumer is paying for goods or services, the relevant legislation is the Sale of Goods Act 1979 or the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, respectively.
	The Government are intending to bring forward a Consumer Bill of Rights to simplify and clarify consumer rights when those goods or services are defective so that they are easier for consumers to understand and enforce.
	The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) make it an offence for traders to treat consumers unfairly through misleading actions, misleading omissions or aggressive practices. The Government are also intending to bring forward proposals to give consumers who are victims of these practices clearer private rights of redress.

Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that any transitional periods granted to businesses affected by the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 will be granted on a case-by-case basis;
	(2)  whether his Department plans to offer assistance to firms engaged in the manufacturing and production of replica furniture if they suffer economic disadvantage as a result of the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(3)  if he will estimate the number of British businesses likely to be economically (a) advantaged and (b) disadvantaged as a result of the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(4)  what the evidential basis is of the statement in his Department's impact assessment report on the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, that the extensive use made by internet importers of the UK as a staging post for EU-wide sales means that it is likely that a very significant part of this claimed loss could be caused by infringers trading in the UK;
	(5)  what consultation his Department is conducting on a transitional period for businesses to adapt under the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(6)  if he will conduct an assessment of the recent study by Dr Clare McAndrew of potential effects of the repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 on manufacturers, importers and retailers of replica furniture; and if he will publish the results of that assessment;
	(7)  what assessment he has made of potential changes in the level of litigation relating to copyright disputes as a result of the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(8)  whether he has made an assessment of the likely effects of the proposed repeal of section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 on firms currently producing furniture replicas;
	(9)  what assessment he has made of the impact assessment report from the Intellectual Property Office on the plans to repeal section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(10)  whether the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 will be introduced on the basis of a transitional period to allow firms to adjust;
	(11)  what assessment he has made of whether firms are likely to close as a result of the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; and how many such closures may take place;
	(12)  whether he has made an estimate of additional costs that may be incurred by businesses as a result of the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(13)  if he proposes to consult with any of the individuals and businesses likely to be affected by the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(14)  if he will publish the research and statistical basis for the cost and benefit analysis of the plans to repeal section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 set out in the impact assessment by the Intellectual Property Office;
	(15)  what factors he plans to take into account when deciding what length of transitional periods should be granted to businesses affected by the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(16)  which stakeholders were consulted as part of the impact assessment process for the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(17)  if he will estimate any projected change in tax revenue resulting from the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988;
	(18)  if he will estimate the likely effect of the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 on the number of jobs in (a) manufacturers and importers of replica furniture and (b) other associated businesses;
	(19)  whether the Intellectual Property Office consulted manufacturers and importers of, and traders in, replicas as part of its impact assessment of the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988; and if he will publish any representations made as the result of such consultation;
	(20)  whether his Department consulted about the possibility of applying the proposed changes to section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 retrospectively.

Jo Swinson: As detailed in the impact assessment on copyright protection for designs:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/corporate/docs/c/12-866-copyright-protection-designs-impact-assessment
	the Government propose to repeal section 52 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (“section 52”) in order to clarify and update UK legislation in line with EU law.
	The Government did not carry out a formal consultation prior to publishing the impact assessment, but it did take into account representations made to it by manufacturers of classic designs who have said that they sustain significant losses as a result of internet sellers who take advantage of the loop hole in the UK legislation to sell unauthorised copies from the far east in the rest of the EU. The Government do not plan to publish these ad hoc representations. It is aware of the work by Dr Clare McAndrew.
	The research and statistical basis underlying the cost and benefit analysis for the proposed repeal was set out in the impact assessment and was endorsed by the Regulatory Policy Committee as fit for purpose.
	The Government have no current plans to provide further estimates of the impact on jobs or tax receipts on businesses associated with the manufacturing and import of replica furniture. Nor are there any plans to apply the changes retrospectively.
	As detailed in the published impact assessment, the number of items which may be affected by the repeal of section 52 is uncertain, but will depend on the exact nature of the transitional provisions, the extent to which the provisions are tailored to individual cases, as well as stock levels, and contractual and licensing arrangements. The repeal may have only limited impact in some sectors, depending on how many rights holders decide to enforce their copyrights and to litigate if necessary, and how far the works concerned are judged to qualify for copyright protection. The Government have no plans to provide direct financial assistance.
	The Government will hold a public consultation on the implementation of the transitional provisions. In the meantime, discussions and evidence-gathering with importers, sellers and manufacturers of replica furniture are continuing.

Education: Prisoners

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many prisoners in (a) England and (b) Birmingham have participated in his Department's “Making Prisons Work: Skills for Rehabilitation” scheme since May 2011; and what the cost of this scheme has been.

Matthew Hancock: ‘Making Prisons Work: Skills for Rehabilitation’, published jointly by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Ministry of Justice in May 2011, set out a new strategy for offender learning and represents a new way of delivering it. The strategy gives prison governors a new, decisive influence on the choice of education provider and the curriculum to be delivered, and renews and refreshes the focus on developing the skills employers want in the areas where prisoners will be released. Its principal impacts will begin to be seen from this summer as providers commence delivery against a new service specification.
	The Skills Funding Agency's budget for 2012-13 to deliver learning and careers advice in prisons is £154 million. Skills Funding Agency data show that on 1 June 2012, 28,687(1) prisoners were engaged in learning that it funds, with 318 engaged at HMP Birmingham.
	(1) Data exclude HMP Thameside and HMP Oakwood.

Export Controls

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the average time taken to award an export licence was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 7 September 2012
	The Export Control Organisation (ECO) aims to process 70% of standard individual export licence (SIEL) and standard individual trade control licence (SITCL) applications within 20 working days. For open individual export licence (OIEL) and open individual trade control licence (OITCL) applications, the ECO aims to process 60% of applications within 60 working days.
	Median processing times are published as part of the Government's Annual and Quarterly reports on Strategic Export Controls, which are available to view on the Strategic Export Controls Reports and Statistics website at:
	https://www.exportcontroldb.bis.gov.uk/eng/fox
	For the first quarter of 2012, the median processing times for SIELs and SITCLs was 15 days, and for OIELs and OITCLs 54 days.
	Information covering 1 April to 30 June 2012 will be published in October 2012.

Higher Education: Admissions

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to increase the number of state school pupils who go on to attend Russell Group universities.

David Willetts: The Government have established a new framework, which places more responsibility on universities and colleges to widen participation. We will ensure that widening participation for students from all backgrounds remains a key strategic objective for all higher education institutions. We believe it is valid and appropriate for institutions to seek to broaden access while maintaining excellence, so long as individuals are considered on their merits, and institutions' procedures are fair, transparent and evidence-based.
	All institutions that intend to charge more than the basic £6,000 annual tuition charge have to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the independent Director of Fair Access what more they will do to attract students from under-represented and disadvantaged groups. A new National Scholarship programme began this year. By 2014, it will provide £150 million to help improve access to higher education amongst the least well off young people and adults. All higher education institutions charging over £6,000 will be required to participate in the programme
	We wrote on the 22 May to both the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) asking them to develop a shared strategy for promoting access to higher education and maximising the impact of the spending by Government, HEFCE and institutions. We asked them to consider how total investment might be best targeted to deliver impact. It is vital that all the relevant spending is based on the best possible evidence base and harnessed to drive systematic improvements.
	The Government have published a measure of the gap in progression to the most selective higher education institutions by school type. This measure was developed as part of the Government's social mobility strategy.

India

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to reduce the UK's current account deficit with India.

Michael Fallon: The UK had a current account surplus of £972 million with India in 2011.
	The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will continue its work to create further improvements in the bilateral trade and investment relationship between the UK and India. UK Trade and Investment's (UKTI) India team is the third largest such operation in the world with 86 staff based in nine cities. The team delivers a full programme of activity aimed at supporting UK businesses, particularly from the small and medium- sized enterprise (SME) sector, seeking to do business in India. UKTI also provides financial support (£1 Million P/A) for the UK India Business Council which, alongside UKTI, advises UK businesses on how to succeed in India.
	A successful resolution to the ongoing EU-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations will also have a positive effect on our current account with India.

India and China

Ian Paisley Jnr: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress UK Trade and Investment has made in the creation of new posts in (a) India and (b) China.

Michael Fallon: Over the past two years we have reviewed the deployment of UKTI resources in both India and China and as a result have strengthened our operations in both markets. We now have 88 full-time equivalent staff in India and 97 in China. We will soon be recruiting to fill new senior posts in both markets in order to strengthen further the support we can give to UK businesses in these key high growth markets.

Insolvency

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will commission a detailed study of the lay-by sales scheme in place in New Zealand and the insolvency arrangements relating to pre-payment customers.

Jo Swinson: We are aware of the protections available to pre-payment customers under New Zealand consumer law, but we have no plans to commit resources to such a study at this time. We fully appreciate the significant impact that an insolvency can have on pre-payment customers and we have been working closely with the pre-payment industry and consumers, particularly those affected by the collapse of Farepak, to explore how they may be better protected in the future through non-regulatory solutions. This work is ongoing.

London Metropolitan University

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings at ministerial level have taken place with the Vice- Chancellor or other officials of London Metropolitan University since 2010; and what the nature of those discussions was.

David Willetts: holding answer 7 September 2012
	I have been in regular touch with London Metropolitan University in recent months. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.

Overseas Trade: Burma

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent assessment he has made of trade relations between the UK and Burma; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: There has been significant interest in Burma from UK businesses since our policy of discouraging trade was lifted earlier this year in recognition of progress made in Burma. We strongly believe that responsible trade and investment can aid Burma's transition to democracy. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is funding a project which will provide advice on the implementation of the United Nations (UN's) Guiding Principles and will establish a resource centre within Burma to provide advice to embassies and companies on doing business responsibly.
	UKTI now has a presence in the market and is able to provide a range of services to UK businesses, including tailored market research to help them plan how to sustainably invest in the market.

Overseas Trade: Environment Protection

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 17 July 2012, on UKTI and ECGD Support for Green Technologies, whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department would be permitted to support export contracts for category A and category B projects as defined by the 2007 OECD Council Recommendation on Common Approaches on the Environment and Officially Supported Export Credits where emissions during the operations phase are estimated to be above 100,000 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent per annum.

Jo Swinson: A new OECD Recommendation on Common Approaches for Officially Supported Export Credits and Environmental and Social Due Diligence was adopted by the OECD Council on 28 June 2012 and all new applications for Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) support will be considered under its terms. ECGD would be permitted to support export contracts that fall within the ambit of 2012 OECD Common Approaches, where the environmental, social and human rights impacts of the related project, including carbon dioxide emissions, are addressed in accordance with the relevant international standards, typically those of the World Bank Group.

Regional Growth Fund: Worcestershire

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding has been awarded to businesses in Worcestershire through the Regional Growth Fund to date.

Michael Fallon: The Regional Growth Fund (RGF) is delivering jobs and leveraging approximately £6 of private investment for every pound Government spends. 13% of successful RGF projects from Rounds 1 and 2 are from the West Midlands; it is an important region which we will continue to support. In Worcestershire, conditional allocations of £20,855,000 have been made from the first two rounds of bidding. Successful bids under Round Three will be announced shortly.

Students: Finance

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications for professional and career development loans were received in each academic year since 2001-02.

David Willetts: Data held by the Skills Funding Agency indicate that, from the introduction of professional and career development loans in 2009, the following number of loan applications was received by the participating banks:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of applications 
			 2009-10 20,627 
			 2010-11 19,229 
			 2011-12 22,716 
		
	
	In tine with the management of Departmental budgets, data are recorded in financial years, rather than academic years. Data regarding applications for career development loans (up to 2009) were not part of the contractual audit requirements agreed with the banks. Information is therefore not available on the number of loan applications received prior to 2009.

Sunday Trading

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the effect of the recent temporary relaxation of Sunday trading legislation on (a) retail sales and (b) levels of sick leave and other forms of absenteeism.

Michael Fallon: The suspension of the current Sunday trading regulations applied to England and Wales from 22 July to 9 September.
	The Department has requested data on the impact of the suspension, including the impact on sales and employment, from a number of large retailers and will analyse the impact on the retail sales of small retailers using the ONS Retail Sales Index.
	The Department has no plans to estimate the impact of the suspension on levels of sick leave or other forms of absenteeism.

Trade Unions

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will estimate the number of publicly-funded projects undertaken by firms that engage in blacklisting against trade union members.

Francis Maude: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Cabinet Office.
	My Department does not hold this information centrally.

Unfair Dismissal: Compensation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what evidence or advice his Department gathered on the potential direct benefits to business prior to taking the decision to consult on introducing compensated no fault dismissals.

Jo Swinson: The Department has not consulted on introducing compensated no fault dismissal. Instead, we issued a call for evidence as a preliminary stage in our evidence-based approach to this policy. In conjunction with this call for evidence, we published international case studies, which are available online at:
	http://www.bis.gov.uk/assets/biscore/employment-matters/docs/d/12-771-dismissal-for-micro-businesses-case-studies.pdf
	By the time the call for evidence closed on 8 June, we had received a wide range of over 250 submissions. We are currently in the process of analysing the evidence, carefully weighing the potential benefits and consequences of no fault dismissal. The Government response will be published shortly.

Work Experience: Minimum Wage

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints his Department's Pay and Work Rights helpline service has received from people who have undertaken unpaid internships and believe they should have been entitled to the minimum wage; and how many such complaints have been resolved in favour of the complainant in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jo Swinson: Before August 2011, the Government did not collect information on whether or not the complainant was an intern, volunteer or otherwise working for no pay or expenses only. Since then, this information has been recorded. Up to 31 August 2012, 61 complaints have been referred to HMRC that have been identified as potentially being of this nature.
	HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC's) case management system does not differentiate between the outcome for ‘interns' cases' and other cases. We are, therefore, unable to say how many complaints were resolved in favour of the complainant.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department is funding any programmes promoting inter-faith and religious tolerance in Burma.

Alan Duncan: DFID does not have any specific programmes which promote inter-faith and religious tolerance in Burma. We are working with a range of partners, including faith-based organisations, to support peace and reconciliation in Burma.

Developing Countries: Business

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the developing world.

Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International Development (DFID) plans to help unblock commercial lending to over 200,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in Africa and South Asia over the next seven years.
	DFID is working with companies worldwide to find new ways of incorporating small businesses into their international supply chains.
	DFID is also supporting legal and regulatory reform, infrastructure development, and establishment of property rights to reduce the cost of doing business in partner developing countries.

Developing Countries: Sanitation

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support her Department has given in each country for aid and development projects relating to water, sanitation and hygiene in the last 12 months; and how much was spent in each country on each such project.

Lynne Featherstone: Details of the Department for International Development (DFID) bilateral aid expenditure by sector is published in “Statistics on International Development” (SID), which is available online at
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	The next SID report will be available in October 2012.
	The consolidated figures for 2012/13 are not yet available, however, the latest details on each individual project are available on our website at
	http://projects.dfid.gov.uk/

Overseas Aid

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Aid Match scheme.

Alan Duncan: UK Aid Match was launched as a one-year pilot in June 2011. The scheme has been a successful mechanism for backing public choices on the use of aid, by matching their donations to charity appeals, pound for pound. To date 16 organisations have successfully applied to the scheme, with eight appeals completed and eight currently in progress. The money raised will support a wide variety of development projects and programmes, all designed to deliver important, measurable improvements to the lives of some of the world's poorest people.

Overseas Aid

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the total value of support provided to charities through the Aid Match scheme was in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) England, (d) Wales and (e) Northern Ireland in the last year for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: The information requested is as follows:
	(a) £29,971,539 has been committed under UK Aid Match, to eight completed appeals, since the scheme was launched in June 2011.
	The breakdown by nation, based on the location of charity Head Offices, is as follows:
	(b) Scotland: £0
	(c) England: £29,071,539
	(d) Wales: £0
	(e) Northern Ireland: £900,000.

Overseas Aid

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the call for applications for the Aid Match scheme will re-open for 2013.

Alan Duncan: UK Aid Match is expected to re-open for applications in late 2012.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on allegations of use of bird shot by Bahraini police and security forces in towns and villages in Bahrain.

Alistair Burt: I have seen non-governmental organisation and press reports about the alleged use of ‘bird shot' by the Bahraini police. We have made it clear to the Bahraini Government that we expect them to adhere to international human rights standards at all times. We have also called on the police to exercise all possible restraint in their handling of public order situations.
	But, we have also seen an increase in violence directed at the security forces, including the use of Molotov cocktails and nail bombs. We have made it clear that we expect demonstrators to also respect the rule of law. Legitimate and peaceful demonstrations are a welcome part of any society, but violence on the streets is not.
	We expect all those who commit human rights violations to be prosecuted. I am pleased that the Bahraini Government have begun this process, but a lot more needs to be done.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Bahraini government on the imprisonment of Nabeel Rajab.

Alistair Burt: I am very concerned at the length of the sentence handed down to Nabeel Rajab for charges relating to comments made on social networking sites and for the incitement of illegal rallies.
	I have made it clear to the Bahraini authorities that the human and civil rights of peaceful opposition figures must be respected. Freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and peaceful protests are legitimate parts of any modern democracy.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made representations to the Bahraini government on the case of the medics convicted for their role in the demonstrations in that country in 2011.

Alistair Burt: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), expressed his concern, and that of the British Government, when the medical staff were convicted last year. We believed the sentences imposed were disproportionate and we believe the trials were flawed.
	On appeal, many of the sentences were overturned, which we welcomed. I understand the remaining cases will be heard in October, and that all medical staff are currently on bail.
	We have made it clear to the Bahraini Government that the civil rights of peaceful opposition figures, the legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly must be respected.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he raised the excessive use of force by Bahraini security forces against protesters with King Hamad of Bahrain on his recent visit to London.

Alistair Burt: The Prime Minister discussed a wide range of issues with the King of Bahrain, including the internal situation and the Bahraini Government's efforts to implement the findings of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Enquiry. The discussions built on detailed and continuing contact which Foreign and Commonwealth Office Ministers have regularly with the Bahraini authorities on these subjects.

Buildings

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reciprocal arrangements there are between the UK and other nations for the leasing of property for diplomatic purposes.

David Lidington: We have a bilateral agreement with the Russians whereby we provide each other with property in Moscow and in London on a 99-year lease. There are no other formal reciprocal arrangements between the UK and other nations.

Central African Republic

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the welfare of David Simpson held under house arrest in the Central African Republic; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Simmonds: We are delighted that David Simpson is now back in the UK. Government Ministers and officials have worked hard on his behalf since his arrest. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) raised the case personally with Central African Republic (CAR) Foreign Minister Gambi in August.
	Consular staff visited him regularly and we were in frequent contact with him, his family and with the CAR authorities throughout his detention to monitor his welfare and to urge a swift resolution of the case.
	I also refer my hon. Friend to the Foreign Secretary's statement of 8 September 2012.

Gambia

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the government of Gambia on the wellbeing of journalists and activists in The Gambia who are perceived to be opponents of the government;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the government of Gambia on the condition of Ebrima Manneh;
	(3)  if he will make representations to the government of Gambia on the detention of journalist Ebrima Manneh.

Mark Simmonds: Britain is deeply concerned about human rights in The Gambia, including the rights of journalists and, in particular, the absence of full and proper investigation into the disappearance of Ebrima Manneh in 2006.
	We have raised these general concerns, as well as more specific concerns about individuals, including Ebrima Manneh, at EU meetings which are held twice a year and co-chaired by our high commissioner in Banjul. The last one was held on 6 June 2012. We have also repeatedly raised the case of Ebrima Manneh—and fellow journalist Deyda Hydara, who was killed in 2004—bilaterally with the Government of The Gambia.
	At EU talks in November last year, the Gambian Government agreed to invite the UN Secretary-General to commission an inquiry into the disappearance of Ebrima Manneh and the death of Deyda Hydara. The Government have since done so and the UN Secretary-General has referred both cases to the UN Office of the high commissioner for Human Rights. We continue to follow the inquiry and take an interest in developments.
	We are not aware of any journalists under detention or facing prosecution at present, but the high commissioner has raised concerns with the Gambian Government at the sudden closure of Taranga FM Radio Station in August. We remain in close contact with the station manager.

Ramil Safarov

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Hungarian Government on the case of Ramil Safarov.

David Lidington: The UK Government have not held any discussions with the Hungarian authorities on the case of Ramil Safarov. We are, however, following developments closely. We have supported EU and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) statements on the Safarov case. Our main concern is to ensure that tensions between Armenia
	and Azerbaijan are not increased as a result of this incident, and to encourage both sides to exercise restraint to prevent any escalation of the situation.